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Neoseiulus californicus

Identification

Neoseiulus californicus is a predatory mite used to control spider mite and broad mite species in ornamental, fruit, vegetable and cannabis crops. It also considered a generalist and can attack thrips and other invertebrates.

The adult is pear-shapped with long legs and measures 0.5 mm. N. californicus adult is translucent orange-beige and look like Neoseiulus fallacis. The eggs are round, transparent and measure 0.05 mm in diameter. Nymphs (juvenile stage) look like adults except that they are smaller.

N. californicus develops faster when consuming the two-spotted spider mite. it can also eat pollen, thrips and other small insects, but its reproduction will be slowed down with this diet. This predatory mite is particularly voracious and can attack other biological control agents such as Neoseiulus cucumeris or Phytoseiulus persimilis nymphs and eggs.

Cannabis
Fruits
Ornementals
Cucumbers
Tomatoes

Spider mites
Broad mites
Thrips
Other invertebrates

The optimum conditions are a temperature between 16 and 32 °C and a relative humidity between 40 and 80%.
Life cycle last approximately 7,5 days at 25°C
A female lays 4 eggs a day.
Eats on average 5 prey a day.
Do not enter in diapause.
Becomes inactive under 10°C.

Sachet

A Water-resistant paper bag containing a mixture of predatory mites (Californicus), bran mites (prey), and substrate (bran). The package becomes a kind of mini-farm that gradually produces predatory mites over 4-6 weeks, depending on environmental conditions.

Tube

A Tube containing adult and juvenile predatory mites in vermiculite.

General instructions

N.californicus can be introduced in the form of slow release sachet (preventive) or in bulk (curative and hot spot).
The use of this predator is recommended when the temperature exceeds 25 °C and low humidity.
This predatory mite can be release in outside crops like fruits and Cannabis.

In the case of two-spotted spider mite severe infestation (presence of web), introduce the predatory specialist mite Phytoseiulus persimilis directly in outbreaks if your environmental conditions allow.