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 Aphelinus abdominalis as Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Potato Aphid) or Macrosiphum rosae (Rose Aphid) occurs.
• Introduce 2 Aphelinus/m² in and around hot spots.

• Preventive: Introduce minimum 0,15 Aphidius colemani/m² per week
• Curative: As soon as aphids are detected: introduce minimum 0,5-1 Aphidius colemani/m² per week, until an equilibrium is reached.
• Disperse Aphidius in Bio-Boxes (± 25 boxes/ha)

• Preventive: Introduce 5-10 Aphidoletes/m²/week in and around aphid hot spots during at least 3 weeks.
• Open the bottle and place this bottle under an 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.
   

• Introduce Aphidius ervi as Macrosiphum euphorbiae (potato aphid) or Macrosiphum rosae (rose aphid) occur.
• Introduce 2 Aphidius ervi/m² in and around hot spots.

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.

• For the detection of the first moths in the greenhouse.
• 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 pheromones.
  • Replace the pheromone capsules regularly (every 4 weeks).
• Spray with Bacillus thuringiensis at most 7 days after the first moth was catched. Repeat this spraying after 7 to 10 days.

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

• Introduce every 2 weeks 0,5-1 Encarsia/m² as soon as whiteflies are detected in the greenhouse. Repeat until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).

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

• Introduce as from February during minimum 4 weeks min. 2 wasps/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).

Mealy bug is one of the hardest pests to control. Its body is covered with white waxy threads, which often make a chemical pest control little successful.
 

• Hot spots: Introduce 20 to 30 Leptomastix per hot spot. Repeat 3 times at 7-day intervals.

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 2-4 Amblyseius californicus/m² throughout the greenhouse. Repeat if necessary.

• Introduce 1 packing (250 Feltiella) per hot spot per week during 3-4 weeks.
• Remark: The gall midges have an excellent ability to search, but they can become disorientated by frequent use of a sulphur steamer.

• Introduce minimum 4-6 Phytoseiulus/m² as soon as the first spider mite is detected.
• In and around hot spots: 20 Phytoseiulus/m²

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).

Amblyseius-Breeding-System (A.B.S.) (predatory mite - Amblyseius cucumeris in sachets)

• Introduce 500 sachets (in total minimum 1 million Amblyseius cucumeris/ha). Repeat this in winter every 6 weeks and every 4 weeks during the rest of the year.
• Warning:
  Amblyseius-Breeding-System (ABS), which contains the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris delivered in breeding sachets, also contains Mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and bran. Under certain circumstances such as a moist greenhouse climate or when using large quantities of breeding sachets, Mold mite population can increase to the point of causing damages in some crops (e.g. cucumbers). When planning to use these products in crops where they have never been used before, we recommend to first perform a small-scale trial or to discuss this with your Biobest advisor or supplier.

Amblyseius-System (predatory mite - Amblyseius cucumeris in 1L-Sprinkler tube) 

• Disperse 250 Amblyseius cucumeris/m²/week or every 2 weeks in thrips hot spots.
• Warning:
  Amblyseius-Breeding-System (ABS), which contains the predatory mite Amblyseius cucumeris delivered in breeding sachets, also contains Mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and bran. Under certain circumstances such as a moist greenhouse climate or when using large quantities of breeding sachets, Mold mite population can increase to the point of causing damages in some crops (e.g. cucumbers). When planning to use these products in crops where they have never been used before, we recommend to first perform a small-scale trial or to discuss this with your Biobest advisor or supplier.

• Introduce in spring 250 Hypoaspis miles/m² to control the thrips pupae.
• Remark:
  • Do not leave open flowers in the greenhouse, as thrips larvae can develop very quickly in them.
  • Throw away old flowers in a closed container.