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 when glasshouse potato aphids (Aulacorthum solani) or potato aphids (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) are spotted.
• 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 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.
• Remarks:
  • Start with the first introduction, not later than the first bloom.
  • 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 theu van become disorientated by frequent use of a sulphur steamer.
   

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 up pheromone traps for the detection of the first moths in the greenhouse.
• Use at least 2 traps per species per ha.
• At intervals of at least 50 m to avoid mixing of pheromones.
• Replace the pheromone capsules in time (every 4 weeks).

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

• Preventive: Introduce 1 Encarsia formosa/m² during minimum 3 weeks. Discuss further steps with your advisor. 
• Curative: When whiteflies are detected, introduce during minimum 4 weeks 3-4 Encarsia/m²  until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).

• Preventive: Introduce 1 Encarsia formosa/m² during minimum 3 weeks. Discuss further steps with your advisor. 
• Curative: When whiteflies are detected, introduce during minimum 4 weeks 3-4 Encarsia/m²  until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).

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

• Preventive:
  As from February release in 2 introductions minimum 0,5 Macrolophus/m²
  Use Nutrimac for alternative food.
• Curative:
  Introduce in 2 to 4 introductions minimum 0,5-1 Macrolophus/m²
  Introduce in whitefly hot spots 5 to 10 Macrolophus/m²
• Remark:
  Introduce Macrolophus always in the crop, use a Bio-Box for the introduction.
  Per packaging maximum 5-10 introduction points

• Alternative food for predatory bugs. 
• Introduce weekly during 2 to 4 weeks a dose of 10-20 gram/ha.
• Introduce Nutrimac always in the crop on a protected spot on the leaf.

The application method of PreFeRal® WG depends on the crop and the number of whiteflies present.

• Spraying:
  PreFeRal® WG should be applied with conventional spraying equipment. PreFeRal® WG works as a contact insecticide. In order to obtain an efficient insect control, the undersides of the leaves should be properly covered. It is recommendable to use sufficient quantities of water. The volume of water needed depends on crop development. Usually, selection of high spray volume will provide the best results. It is recommended to apply 2.000 - 3.000 l/ha on full-grown and 1.000 l/ha on small or young crops.
  The optimal pH of the water should be between pH 4 and pH 7.
• Integrated Pest Management Programme:
  PreFeRal® WG can be used in combination with beneficials such as Encarsia formosa, Eretmocerus californicus or Macrolophus caliginosus. This makes PreFeRal® WG an outstanding correction agent when biological control needs some extra help with whitefly control. This is called "Integrated Pest Management" (IPM).
• Integrated Resistence Management Programme:
  PreFeRal® WG can be applied in combination with selective whitefly insecticides as a part of an Integrated Resistence Management Programme (IRM).

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.

• Remark: Samples of the leaves should be tested regularly to determine the percentage of parasitized leafminers. Please contact your technical advisor in this respect.
• In case the number of leafminers increases, or from March 1st onwards, introduce 0,1 Diglyphus/m² per week for 3 weeks, or until a sufficient number of leafminers is parasitized.

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.

• In combination with Phytoseiulus against red spider mites.
• Introduce locally (in "hot spots") one pot (250 pupae) per week for 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.
   

• This special strain is bred for application on tomato plants.
• Introduce at least 100-200 Phytoseiulus/m² in and around "hot spots" when spider mites are spotted.
• Repeat after one week
• Control the spider mite hot spots weekly and introduce more Phytoseiulus if necessary.
   

Tuta absoluta is a small leafminer belonging to Gelechiidae family (Order: Lepidoptera).
It causes economic damage, especially in tomato, with potential harvest losses up to 50-100% in untreated crops.
The Tuta larva pierces into leaves, stems and fruits. Also, secondary infections can occur at damaged sites.
This leafminer is also found in other ‘nightshade’ crops.
Tuta is native to South America. Since 2006 this species is also found in the Mediterranean, and recently in Western Europe.
 

• With Tuta absoluta pheromone
• For monitoring: 2 to 3 traps/ha
• Check the traps once a week
• Replace the pheromone lures every 4-6 weeks

• Use Macrolophus in countries where Nesidiocoris is not allowed.
• Mainly used for whitefly control
• Has a significant predation on Tuta absoluta eggs and young larvae
• Introduce a total of 0.5 - 2 Macrolophus/m², over 2 -4 releases with a 1-2 week interval
• Use Nutrimac (Ephestia eggs) to quicken the population development
• Macrolophus develops slowly, early introduction is recommended
• Warning: Macrolophus can cause crop damage (for more info see technical sheet)

• Mainly used for whitefly control
• Has a significant predation on Tuta absoluta eggs and young larvae
• Introduce a total of 0.5 - 2 Nesidiocoris/m², over 2-4 releases with a 1-2 week interval
• Use of Nutrimac (Ephestia eggs) to quicken the population development
•  Nesidiocoris develops slowly, early introduction is recommended
• Warning: Nesidiocoris can cause crop damage (for more info see technical sheet)

• With Tuta absoluta pheromone
• For monitoring: 1-2 traps/ha
• For mass-trapping: 15-45 traps/ha, depending on the pest pressure;
• Place the water traps in the middle of the rows at a height of 20 cm.
• Replace the pheromone lures every 4-6 weeks
• (for more instructions, see technical sheet)