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Encarsia formosa

Encosia formosa parasitoid of whiteflies

Description

Encarsia formosa is a parasitic wasp that parasitizes whiteflies like greenhouse whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) and whiteflies of the genus Bemisia.I was the first biological control agent developed for use in greenhouses. Adults are black with yellow abdomen, measure less than 1 mm long. This miniscule wasp lays its eggs in immature whiteflies (third and fourth larval stages), with females laying 50 to 350 eggs in their lifetime. Larval stages live entirely inside immature whiteflies, which darken and turn back as the parasite develop inside

Produced by the Canadian insectary Applied Bio-Nomics, Encarsia cards are nor refrigerated. Non-refrigerated wasps gives better parasitims rate and a better area dispersion (= more effective).

Availability

Store

Commercial

Targeted crops

Market garden crops (tomato, cucumber, pepper, eggplant, etc.)
Ornemental plants (poinsettia, gerbera, etc.)
Indoor plants

Targeted pests

Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)
Whitefly Bemisia sp.

Life cycle

Encarsia formosa has a life cycle of approximately 28 days at 21 °C.
The optimum conditions are a temperature above 20 ° C and a relative humidity of 50-70%.
The females lay eggs in 2-week-old whiteflies (third and fourth larval stages).
Females lay an average of 10 eggs per day for a total of 200-350 eggs in their lifetime.
At the adult stage, Encarsia formosa can live from a few days to a month, depending on the temperature.
Parasitized whitefly pupae blacken after 10-14 days. The new adult emerges after 2 weeks.

Format

card

AB014 - Encarsia formosa - 1000 pupae (10 cards)

Application

Encarsia pupae are sold glued onto cards and adult will emerge over a period of 1-2 weeks at 20-25 °C. Generally, emergence is fast (2-5 days). Small emergences holes in the pupae are visible using a 5-10 X lens and indicate that the parasite has emerged. For application, hang the Encarsia card from lower leaves in the shade as Encarsia tend to fly upward; avoir wetting them while watering. Do not attemp to use Encarsia if high whitefly populations are already established.

Introduction rate
Introduction	Quantity	Surface	Frequency	Duration
Preventive	1	per m²	weekly or bi-weekly	5 introductions in total
Curative light	5	per m²	weekly	when over 80% of the whiteflies have been parasitized
Hot spot	10	per m²	weekly	when over 80% of the whiteflies have been parasitized
Maintenance	1	per m²	weekly	as needed

Product data sheet(s)

Encarsia formosa technical sheet

Additional information

Targeted pest

Targeted production

Did you know

Aphids, thrips and whiteflies are pests capable of breeding by parthenogenesis (without male fertilization).