Pest: Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)
Biocontrol: Encarsia formosa (parasitoid)
Application: convenient hanging cards with pupae attached are placed around the greenhouse and you enjoy excellent control and prevention of outbreaks.
Biocontrol: Delphastus pusillus (whitefly destroyer)
Application: simply release from shipping carton and they will take care of the rest. They tend to be less effective than Encarsia formosa, however.
Pest: Sweet potato or silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia tabaci or Bemisia argentifolii)
Biocontrol: Eretmocerus eremicus (parasitoid)
Application: convenient hanging cards with pupae attached are hung around the infested area and you enjoy excellent control and prevention of outbreaks. Also available in bran or plain.
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: FUNGUS GNATS
Biocontrol: Nematodes (Hb, Sc) together with Mycostop
Application: Nematodes together with the biofungicide Mycostop is a good example of multiple control tactics. The nematodes infect the fungus gnat larvae and the Mycostop kills off their fungal food source, which aside from making them hungry makes them weaker and more vulnerable to nematode infection.
Biocontrol: Hypoaspis miles (soil-dwelling mite)
Application: H. miles don't only eat thrips, but also fungus gnat larvae. Because they will survive in low fungus knat populations.These mites are best used for long-term control after the infestation has been cleaned up with Mycostop and nematodes.
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.
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.
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.