Encarsia & Eretmocerus
| Description | Format | QTY | Price/each |
| 100 pupae per card (50/50 mix) | 10 cards | Qty | CA$ 27.00 |
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Attention
Product description
Targeted crops
- Market garden crops:
- Cucumbers
- Eggplants
- Peppers
- Tomatoes, etc.
- Ornamental plants:
- Poinsettia, gerbera, etc.
- Indoor plants
Targeted pests
- Whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)
- Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporarium)
- Sweetpotato whitefly (B. tabaci)
- Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii)
- Bandedwinged whitefly (T. abutlonea)
Application Instructions
To ensure maximum effectiveness of Encarsia formosa, it is important that this whitefly parasite not be mixed with other whitefly parasites. Any interference could reduce the parasitism rate and decrease productivity. For extremely fast growing crops where varying instar whitefly levels occur among leaves, mixing may help. Additionally, for optimum conditions when deploying winged-insects such as Encarsia formosa – which are both small and weak fliers – fan speed should be reduced to less than 2 mph while creating still air so they can effectively search out pests.
For optimum efficiency, the average greenhouse temperature over 24 hours should be at least 20°C (68°F). Eretmocerus eremicus remains active at temperatures above 30°C (86°F). To ensure a successful eradication of whiteflies, it is important to keep in mind that Eretmocerus eremicus pupae must not be touched and should only be released into areas out of direct sunlight. The release rate should vary between 1-10 per m² depending on the climate, crop grown and density levels of whiteflies. For maximal efficiency, three separate releases over weekly intervals are recommended when temperatures exceed 20°C (68°F). When greenhouse temperature rises above 30°C (86°F) activity remains viable within the environment.
Storage Instructions
For best performance, disperse immediately upon receipt.
Do not freeze and do not refrigerate.
Description
Encarsia formosa is a small beneficial insect that is widely used in organic agriculture to combat whitefly infestations, particularly in tomato, cucumber, and pepper crops. It is an endoparasitoid, meaning it lays its eggs inside the eggs or larvae of whiteflies, and the Encarsia formosa larvae then feed on the inside of their host, causing its death.
WARNING: Ants can cause severe damage to Encarsia formosa pupae, making it critical to monitor and manage them in any aleurodes pest control program.
Eretmocerus eremicus is an invaluable asset when it comes to controlling whitefly populations in greenhouses. This small parasitoid wasp feeds on larvae, which allows for a significant reduction in populations quickly. Thanks to the large number of eggs that females lay and their impressive reproductive speed, they have an impressive parasitism rate (74%). Combined with Encarsia formosa, you get a powerful combination that helps eradicate whiteflies.