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.

• 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.

• Introduce the Adalia-larvae in the immediate neighbourhood of aphid hot spots.

• 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.

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.

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

• The predatory mites are delivered per 10.000 or 25.000 in a 1 liter plastic pot. The composition of the carrier exists of bran and vermiculite.
• 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.

• 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)

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.

• 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)

• When the first leafminer infestations are detected, introduce minimum 0,25 Dacnusa/Diglyphus (90%-10%) m² per week, until an equilibrium is reached.
• When the damage of the leafminer increases, introduce 100% 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%.

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).

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).

• 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.