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 occurring.
• Introduce 2 Aphidius/m² in and around hot spots.

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

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

• Preventive: Introduce 0,1 Aphidius colemani/m² per week
• Curative: As soon as aphids are detected: introduce minimum 0,5 Aphidius colemani/m² per week, during 3 weeks until a sufficient number is parasitized.
• Disperse Aphidius in Bio-Boxes (± 25 boxes/ha).

• 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 minimum 2 - 4 Amblyseius californicus/m² on places where the first spider mite hot spots are expected.

• 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 mites are detected.
• The dose depends on the severeness of spider mite infestation. Introduce in and around the spider mite hot spots: minimum 20 predatory mites/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 per week.
• Curative: After detection of whiteflies, introduce weekly minimum 3 Encarsia formosa/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).
• Introduce in hot spots 5 - 10 Encarsia/m² per week until an equilibrium is reached.

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

• As from February introduce during minimum 4 weeks min. 3/m² until a sufficient number of whiteflies are parasitized (80-90%).

• When Bemisia tabaci (Sweetpotato whitefly) is detected, introduce immediately during 5 weeks 3 Eretmocerus mundus/m².

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).

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).

Introduce shortly after planting preventively minimum 100 Hypoaspis/m² to control the larval and pupal stage of thrips.