The population growth of aphids can be sometimes very fast, leading to great damage in several crops. It is therefore very important to locate the aphids and take necessary measures. Biobest offers a whole series of parasitoids and predators against aphids.

• Introduce Aphidius ervi if Macrosiphum euphorbiae (potato aphid) or Aulacorthum solani (Glasshouse potato aphid) are occuring.
• Introduce 2 Aphidius/m² in and around hot spots.

• Introduce 50-100 Adalia-larvae/m² in the immediate neighbourhood of aphid hot spots, to support Aphidius and Aphidoletes.

• Introduce Aphelinus abdominalis if Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Potato apphid) or Aulacorthum solani (Glasshouse potato aphid) are occuring.
• Introduce 2 Aphelinus/m² in and around the hot spots.

• Preventive: Introduce 0,15 Aphidius colemani/m² per week.
• Curative: As soon as aphids are detected: introduce minimum 0,5 Aphidius colemani/m² per week, until an equilibrium is reached.
• When there is enough parasitization: introduce minimum 0,15 Aphidius colemani/m² per week to maintain the balance.
• Disperse Aphidius in bioboxes (± 25 boxes/ha).

• Preventive: Introduce 0,1 Aphidoletes/m²/week.
• Curative: When aphids are detected in the crop, introduce 0,5-1 Aphidoletes/m²/week.
• Open the bottle and put it under the aphid hot spot, or disperse Aphidoletes, in heaps, on a moist substrate.
• Remark: The gall midges have an excellent ability to search, but they can become disorientated by frequent use of a sulphur steamer.

A population of spider mites can grow very rapidly, especially under dry and warm conditions. Fast action is recommended to keep the spider mite densities as low as possible.

• Introduce preventively Amblyseius californicus on places where spider mites are early expected, minimum 4 predatory mites/m².
• Introduce preventively Amblyseius californicus over the whole greenhouse minimum 2 predatory mites/m².

• In combination with Phytoseiulus at spider mote hot spots.
• Introduce locally 1 pot (250 pupae) during 4-6 weeks.
• Introduction: 8 pots/ha during 4-6 weeks.
• Remark: The gall midges have an excellent ability to search, but they can become disoreintated by frequent use of a sulphur steamer.

• Introduce minimum 4 Phytoseiulus/m² as soon as the first spider mites are detected. The exact amount depends on the severness of the spider mite infestation.
• In and around hot spots: 20 Phytosieulus/m².
• Spread well in the working direction.

The greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) is a typical greenhouse pest that affects many crops.

• Available as sprinkling material and on cards.
• Preventive: Introduce 1,5 Encarsia/m²/ week. (3 weeks after planting).
• Curative: After detection of whiteflies, introduce minimum 3 Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).
• Introduce hot spots 5-10 Encarsia/m² per week until an equilibrium is reached.

• A mix of Eretmocerus eremicus + Encarsia formosa (50/50) for whitefly control. (Trialeurodes vaporariorum).
• Curative: As from February introduce during minimum 4 weeks min. 3-4 Eretmocerus eremicus + Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).

• A mix of Eretmocerus eremicus + Encarsia formosa (50/50) for whitefly control. (Trialeurodes vaporariorum).
• Curative: As from February introduce during minimum 4 weeks min. 3-4 Eretmocerus eremicus + Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).

Leafminers cause a lot of visual damage in different crops because the larvae eat mines in the leaves. Especially in ornamental plant cultivation crops a little infestation can cause already a lot of damage because then the product is not saleable anymore.

• A mix of Eretmocerus eremicus + Encarsia formosa (50/50) for whitefly control. (Trialeurodes vaporariorum).
• Curative: As from February introduce during minimum 4 weeks min. 3-4 Eretmocerus eremicus + Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).

• Introduce when the first leafminer infestation is detected:
  • Spring & Fall: minimum 0,5 Dacnusa/Diglyphus (90%-10%) m² per week, until an equilibrium is reached.
  • Summer (or at a higher infestation): introduce 100% Diglyphus in a dose of minimum 0,1. Diglyphus/m²/week during minimum 3 weeks or until a sufficient number of leafminers are parasitized.
• Remark: Samples of the leaf should be tested regularly to determine the percentage must be 80-90%. 

Voracious on several crops
Caterpillar damage usually occurs in late summer and early autumn, but recently some caterpillars have been causing problems throughout the growing season. There are several biological control methods of caterpillar control.

• Hang 2 catch lamps/ha above the crop, to catch as many Duponchelia as possible.
• Hang minimum 2 Attract^® pheromone lures per ha.
  • Hang the Attract^® pheromone lures minimum 50 m from each other to prevent a mixture of the phereomones
  • Replace the pheromone capsules regularly (every 4 weeks)

Adult thrips are small, elongated insects with typical fringed wings. They measure about 1 mm, and have a greyish or yellow to brown colour. The two most common harmful species are the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) and the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis).

• Preventive: start at the first bloom. Introduce minimum 1 Orius/m² divided in 2 introductions.
• Orius can be useful if max. 2 cultivations occur per year.
• At thrips detection early in the second cultivation: minimum 1 Orius/m² over the whole greenhouse.