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PlantPro Newsletter - Biologicial Pest Management July  2010
In This Issue
Series 3 - Encarsia,Erotmocerus, Aphilius and Aphidoletes
Series 4 -Feltiella, Orius, Dacnusa and Diglyphus
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A. Colemani
A colemani








Aphidius Mummies on banker Plant.





Aphidius mummies on banker plant
Aphidoletes Larva
































Aphidoletes larva












Feltiella Coccoon
Feltiella coccoon









Orius Adult
Orius Adult













































Diglyphus Isaea Pupae
Di pupaea

Bio rating mod



 
 
 
 
 

 
Series 3 of 4:
Encarsia, Eretmocerus, Aphidius And Aphidoletes

Aphid Parasitoid,
Not Hatched.
bio1
Aphidius sp. commonly used in the greenhouse are Aphidius colemani and Aphidius ervi. These parasitic wasps are an effective tool when it comes to aphid control. Both are great searchers and can find aphid spots when colonies are small. The type of aphids you have in your greenhouse will determine what type of Aphidius you should use. Aphidius will arrive to you in a vial with vermiculite or buckwheat carrier and the Aphidius will be in the form of a "mummy" (a parasitized aphid or cocoon). They should be released throughout the greenhouse or in a banker plant system for preventative use. For existing aphid spots Aphidius should be released directly in and around the spot.

The banker plant system is potted cereal (monocot) inoculated with cereal aphids. A. colemani can begin to parasitize these aphids to provide a constant production of aphid parasites. If monocots are being grown for production, banker plants are not recommended as the cereal aphids may become an issue.

Aphidius colemani is used to control melon (or cotton) aphids and green-peach aphids. Colemani will begin to mate and then parasitize aphids a day after emerging from the mummy. An adult female can lay about 300 eggs in her adult life. After the egg is laid in the aphid host, it can take from several up to 14 days before the adult A. colemani emerges, depending on temperature. Prevention is key! Introducing on a banker plant system is a great way to build up a parasite population before aphids become a pest in your crop.

Aphidius ervi is larger than A. colemani and can control larger aphids such as foxglove (=glasshouse potato in Europe) and potato aphids. The life cycle of A. ervi is similar to that of A. colemani.

Aphidoletes is a gall midge that will fly and search out many species of aphids and deposit eggs in the colony. After 2-3 days (depending on temperature) the eggs hatch and the larvae begin feeding on the aphids. Aphids are consumed only by the larval stage; this stage can last up to 14 days. It also has a bonus of killing more aphids than it actually eats. The adult Aphidoletes will survive on the honey dew excreted from the aphids. Aphidoletes should only be used from March through September to prevent diapause; if artificial lighting is available, they can be used year-round. Aphidoletes are shipped in a vermiculite carrier in the pupal stage. Piles of the mixture should be introduced in and around aphid spots. This is one of the most efficient and cost effective predators.
 
Bio Rating Adv 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Series 4 of 4: Feltiella, Orius, Dacnusa and Diglyphus
 
 
Feltiella Adult.
Feltiella Adult
 
Feltiella, Orius, Dacnusa and Diglyphus all work their best over longer crops. Needing many weeks to build a population, these biologicals are all efficient at reducing targeted pest populations. These beneficial insects are more sensitive to pesticides therefore careful planning and monitoring
are a must. With patience and commitment you will not be disappointed in the investment of these Advanced biologicals.

Feltiella adults search out their prey: the two spotted spider mite. Searching gives Feltiella an advantage over predatory mites. This midge will search until it finds a mite colony and will lay its eggs within. The eggs will hatch and the larvae will start feeding. Feltiella can be sensitive to pesticides so be sure to double check what is compatible. Feltiella should be released over a few weeks to promote overlapping generations. Releasing Feltiella into the greenhouse is a fairly simple process. It will arrive to you in trays that are opened and distributed evenly through the crop in a shaded area.

Orius Nymph in Flower
Orius Nymph in Flower

Orius, also known as the minute pirate bug, is an asset in long crops, because it is the only biological that will consume adult thrips. This biological has diapausing tendencies so it should not be released until the end of February or beginning of March. Orius needs a high thrips population or pollen to begin building up it's population. Pollen is ideal so that Orius
can be released preventatively. This works to the growers' advantage as a low rate can be introduced and by summer have high populations of Orius to defend against thrips. Orius is preferred in crops that are more long term or stock plants where you will benefit in the investment.

Dacnusa is a parasitic wasp that lays its eggs inside a leafminer larva, making it an endoparasite. Dacnusa's hosts are essential to their survival and therefore they are very good at searching out leafminer larva. Once the eggs are laid inside the leafminer larvae; the leafminer stay alive until the Dacnusa is ready to pupate. Once Dacnusa is established in a greenhouse, there is a good chance of carryover from crop to crop as it will survive in the pupating stage of the leafminer. Results cannot be seen right away so it is important to keep up-to-date scouting records.

Diglyphus host feeds and parasitizes leafminers so it is effective at managing large populations. The adult female will search out leafminer larvae by tapping an infested leaf with her antennae.
Once the larva is found she will consume it or deposit an egg beside the larva. Once the larva is parasitized it will take 2 weeks to a month to hatch (depending on temperature), but with their egg laying capacity of 200-300 eggs the population grows quickly.

Dacnusa and Diglyphus work well together.

Preventative rate: 250 per acre of each per week.

· Low infestation rate: 600-1000 per acre of each per week,
for 4 weeks.

· High infestation rate: 2000 per acre of each per week,
for 4 weeks.