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 the Adalia-larvae in the immediate neighbourhood of aphid hot spots.
• The quantity that has to be introduced strongly depends on the infestations pressure and the area of the crop. In an aphid population which is spread over a few plants, it is recommended to introduce 200 to 300 larvae. Control daily and repaet if necessary.
• Remark: Introduce the larvae as soon as possible. If necessary, the material can be stored for a short time at ± 6°C.
   

• Preventive: Introduce minimum 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 parasitizing: introduce minimum 0,15 Aphidius colemani/m² per week as maintenance scheme.
• Remark:
  • Start with the first introduction not later than the first flowering.
  • When hyperparasitizing occurs, Aphidius colemani can be replaced by Aphidoletes aphidimyza.
     

• Preventive: Introduce 0,1-0,2 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.

• When the first aphids are detected in the crop, introduce 0,1-0,25 Aphidius ervi/m²/week until an equilibrium is reached.
• Introduce the parasitic wasps at the lower parts of the plant, preferably in the neighbourhood of aphid 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 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).

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

• During the heating of the greenhouse hang minimum 20 yellow sticky traps per ha to detect the first whitefly.
• Curative: After detection of the first whiteflies, introduce during 4 weeks minimum 3 Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).
• Remark: Encarsia formosa parasitizes preferably the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum).

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

• Curative: After detection of the first whiteflies in the crop, introduce during 5 weeks minimum 3 Eretmocerus mundus/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).
• Remark: Eretmocerus mundus parasitizes only the sweetpotato whitefly! (Bemisia tabaci)

• Preventively disperse 20 pieces/m² on the leaves. As soon as the first preys are detected, spread 100 pieces/m² where whitefly or thrips were located.

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.

• When the leafminer infestation increases, introduce Diglyphus at 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 of parasitized leafminers. To have a satisfying control, the percentage must be 80-90%.

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 Amblyseius californicus preventive on places where spider mite is early expected, minimum 4 Amblyseius californicus/m².
• Introduce Amblyseius californicus preventive in the whole greenhouse: minimum 2 mites/m².
• Remark: Introduce Amblyseius californicus when there are sufficient flowers in the crop.

• In combination with Phytoseiulus at spider mite hot spots.
• Introduce locally 1 pot (250 pupae) during 4-6 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 6 Phytoseiulus/m² as soon as the first spider mite is detected.
• The exact amount of Phytoseiulus depends on the severeness of the spider mite infestation. Introduce in and around the spider mite hot spots minimum 20 Phytoseiulus/m².
• Remark:
  • Introduce Phytoseiulus on a protected place on the leaf, ± 15-20 cm under the top of the plant.
  • Reckon with the use of sulphur steamers till min. 5 days after introduction.

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 breeding sachets)

• During the heating of the greenhouse hang minimum 20 yellow and/or blue sticky traps per ha to detect the first adult thrips.
• Introduce minimum 4.000 sachets/ha (in total minimum 1 million Amblyseius cucumeris/ha).
• Start at the beginning of the flowering period (an earlier introduction is also possible).
• 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 5L buckets)

• Amblyseius cucumeris can be introduced before the flowering period as cultivation material on the pot.
• Disperse on each pot minimum 2,5 cc. Introduce minimum 750.000 Amblyseius/ha.
• If necessary repeat after 4 weeks if there is still no flower in the crop.
• 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 1 L-sprinkler tube)

• If ABS is not used, Amblyseius cucumeris can be introduced as sprinkling material (50.000 Amblyseius cucumeris per liter).
• Introduce minimum 2 x 500.000 Amblyseius/ha on the crop, with an interval of 1 to 2 weeks.
• Apply only if there is sufficient flowering and a high relative humidity.

• Preferably in combination with Amblyseius cucumeris and Orius.
• Introduce minimum 2.500 Amblyseius degenerans/ha. The first introduction can only occur when there is sufficient flowering.
• Remark: Per bottle maximum 100 introduction points.

• Preventive: Introduce Orius as from week 6 to 8, or at later plantings from the first flowering.
• Curative: Introduce Orius as from the moment that thrips (larvae or adults) in the crop are detected.
• Introduce in 4 introductions minimum 1 Orius/m².
• When the thrips damage increases: introduce Orius in and around the thrips hot spots. (minimum 5-10 Orius/m²).
• Remark: Per packing maximum 5-10 introduction points.