garden pest control

Pest: APHIDS (several species)

Biocontrol: Hippodamia convergens adults (Convergent lady beetles or ladybugs)

Application: Ladybugs work best if they are released directly on the problem each day for a three-day period. Good for cleaning up a large infestation fast, but you will need to make maintenance releases of a parasitoid to keep populations under control.

Biocontrol: Aphidius spp. (parasitoids)

Application: simply released from carton or sprinkle the aphid mummies around the infected areas. Great for keeping populations at bay, but for large infestations ladybugs or lacewings should be used first.

Biocontrol: Aphidoletes aphidimyza (parasitoid fly)

Application: pupae hatch in the containers and the adults are released. Effective at high population levels, but will diapause if temperatures get below 40oF

Biocontrol: Chrysoperla spp. (lacewings)

Application: depends on the life stage ordered

Pest: SPIDER MITES (Tetranychus urticae and others)

Biocontrol: Neoseiulus fallacis (All-purpose spider predatory mite)

Application: Neoseiulus (=Amblyseius) (pyrethrin resistant strain) will do the job. But for broad mites N. californicus is best. G. occidentalis works best in hot conditions. M. longipes and N. californicus like low humidity and light pest densities.

thrips photo Pest: THRIPS

Biocontrol: Two predatory mites Neoseiulus = Amblyseius cucumeris (Thrips predatory mite) and Hypoaspis miles (soil-dwelling mite)

Application: Together N. cucumeris and H. miles work much better than either would alone (positive synergism). And H. miles don't only eat thrips, but also fungus gnat larvae.

Biocontrol: Orius insidiosus (insidious flower bug)

Applicaton: Control with this thrips predator can be varied. Some years it does quite well and others not so well. Try them and let us know what you think.

Pest: leafminers

Biocontrol: Dacnusa siberica (cool-weather parasitoid)

Application: D. isaea is the most popular control for leafminer, but under cool conditions Dacnusa siberica works better.

Pest: ARMORED SCALE species

Biocontrol: Aphytis melinus (golden chalcid armored scale parasitoid)

Application: Works great on the right armored scale. But you need to do some experimenting. Fortunately, they're not that expensive.

Pest: MEALYBUGS

Biocontrol: Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (mealybug destroyer)

Application: These guys are usually very effective. They eat eggs, crawlers, and some adults. They look like mealybugs, but don't worry they're not.

Pest: WHITE GRUBS (e.g., Japanese beetle larvae)

Biocontrol: Heterorhabditis bacteriophor(Hb) (parasitic nematodes)

Application: Nematodes can be effective on 200 plus soil-dwelling pests. And research continues to find strains that work particularly well on a particular pest. Hb are the best for controlling beetle grubs.

Pest: CATERPILLARS

Biocontrol: Trichogramma minutum or T. pretiosum (egg parasitoid wasps)

Application: These guys work great against many moth and butterflies. But the timing is crucial, since they only attack the eggs of the pest. You must understand the lifecycle of the pest and control it accordingly. They are a nonselective control and will attack butterfly eggs too.

Pest: CABBAGE LOOPER

Biocontrol: Cotesia marginiventris (looper egg parasitoid)

Application: Works well in pepper and cucumber crops against the cabbage looper. Can be used in conjunction with Trichogramma brassicae and Bt products. Timing is crucial, since they only attack the eggs of the pest. You must understand the lifecycle of the pest and apply the parasitoids when the egg stage is available. May be available upon special request.

Pest: COLORADO POTATO BEETLE

Biocontrol: Bt Bacillus thuringiensis var. san diego

Application: This concentrated liquid works well against the larvae of the Colorado potato beetle, which can be applied with a spraying apparatus. May be available upon special request.

Pest: cutworms