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Delphastus catalinae

Delphastus catalinae small ladybird specializing in the control of white flies

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Description


Delphastus catalinae or Whitefly lady beetle is a specialized whitefly predator in the lady beetle family. This small black beetle has been used to control and eradicate almost every whitefly species of commercial importance. It’s native to Florida where its’ natural host is, Bemisia. Because of this, Delphastus will seek out and destroy any Bemisia colonies before it moves on to other species of whitefly.

Adults are tiny, 1.4 mm (1/15 inch) long, dark brown to black, hemispherical beetles; females have reddish yellow heads, lighter coloured than males. Larvae are elongated, cream coloured, covered with short fine hairs and have conspicuous legs. Eggs are yellowish ovals, laid on end, in clusters on the underside of leaves.The adult beetles fly, while larvae are slow moving and travel from plant to plant on leaves.

Delphastus is used to control whiteflies in tropical and semi-tropical plantings as well as commercial vegetable greenhouses. This predator avoids feeding on parasitized whiteflies, therefore is compatible with the use of Encarsia spp. and Eretmocerus spp. whitefly parasites. Delphastus also tends to feed in high density whitefly populations, while parasites do best at lower densities of whiteflies. Delphastus adults prefer feeding on whitefly eggs.

Targeted crops



  • Market garden crops (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, etc.)
  • Ornamental plants (diversified, poinsettia, etc.)
  • Fruit trees

Targeted pests



  • Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)
  • Banded-winged whitefly (Trialeurodes spp.)
  • Sweetpotato whitefly, silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia spp.)
  • Woolly whitefly (Aleurothrixus floccosus)
  • Azalea and hibiscus whitefly (Pealius spp.)
  • Cloudywinged, citrus and rhododendron whitefly (Dialeurodes spp.)
  • Citrus blackfly (Aleurocanthus woglumi)

Life cycle


  • The complete life cycle takes 25-21 days at 25-30o C.
  • Optimal conditions for development are temperatures between 16 and 35o C, with 30 to 80% relative humidity.
  • Females lay 2-6 eggs per day, and can lay over 300 eggs in their 65-day life time.
  • Adults can eat 150-640 whitefly eggs or 11 large larvae per day.
  • Do not enter dipause under short-day conditions.
  • Older larvae migrate down the plant to pupate. Pupae are often found clustered along leaf veins on the undersides of leaves.
  • Adults emerge from pupae in 6 days.
  • A single beetle can consume as many as 10,000 whitefly eggs or 700 larvae during its lifetime.
  • Is not active below 13o C.

Format



Container

  • 100 or 1000 adults.

Introduction rate



Delphastus catalinae
Introduction Quantity Surface Frequency Duration
Curative light 0,2-0,5 per m2 bi-weekly 3 introductions in total
Curative heavy 1-2 m 2 weekly 4 introductions in total
Hot spot 100 m 2 weekly as needed

Additional information



  1.   - Delphastus Technical Manual (Applied Bio-Nomics Ltd., 2018)
  2.   - Delphastus catalinae : Applied Bio-Nomics Ltd. (Applied Bio-Nomics Ltd., 2015)
  3.   - Whitefly predatory lady beetle - Delphastus catalinae (University of Florida, 2017)
  4.   - The pest status of Bemisia tabac in China and non-chemical control strategies (Insect science, 2001)
  5.   - Searching and Feeding Behavior of Nephaspis oculatus and Delphastus catalinae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Predators of Bemisia argentifolii (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) (Environmental Entomology, 1999)

Targeted pest


Targeted production




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