Adalia bipunctata is a coccinellid beetle very common in nature and very efficient in aphids predation, especially in ornamentals, fruit trees and vegetables crops. The best application is for reducing infested “hot spots” also in combination with other natural enemies. Egg to adult development takes place in around 3 weeks at 20-25ºC in which 4 …
Amblyseius andersoni is a Phytoseiid mite generic predator of Tetranychidae mites (Tetranychus, Panonychus, Eotetranychus) but also able to prey on russet mites (Eriophyidae) such as Aculops, as well as eat small insects and pollen. This characteristic allows for a stable establishment into the crops and makes it suitable for preventive introductions even in the absence …
Amblyseius cucumeris is a predatory mite applied for the biocontrol of different thrips species (Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci and others) in vegetable and ornamental crops. This tiny predator with a pale colour and a pear shaped body is able to develop within the crop also without the prey if a pollen source is available. Low …
Amblyseius swirskii is a predatory mite originating in the south eastern Mediterranean regions and very well suited for hot climate. It is a general predator nourished by pollen but also by various small organisms, particularly the eggs and young stages of white flies, and the small larvae of thrips. As other predatory mites of the …
Anagyrus vladimiri (formerly known as A. near pseudococci) is an Encyrtidae Hymenoptera that lives as parasitoid of mealybugs. The adult female, approximately 2 mm, has a characteristic coloring of rust brown with a peculiar grayish strips on the back and characteristic white antennas whose scape is large and disc shaped and almost completely black as …
This native European wasp parasitises the eggs of various agricultural and forestal pest, in particular hemipterans and lepidopterans. More and more commonly its is found developing on Halyomorpha halys, the Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and is therefore now considered the best biological control candidate in the new areas of expansion. The females live up …
Anthocoris nemoralis is the more abundant and efficient controlling factor of Cacopsylla pyri, the ‘Pear psylla,’ in Europe. It is a polyphagous predator that can be found in many crops or wild plants other than pear orchards. It hibernates as an adult in protected locations, finding a shelter in bark crevices, dead wood or dead …
Aphidius colemani is a very important parasitoid for aphids biocontrol especially against Aphis gossypii in horticulture and in some ornamental crops. Adults are 2-3 mm long with dark body and long antennae. Life cycle from egg to adult takes around 2 weeks in suitable climatic condition (between 16 and 22ºC) but when the temperature rise …
Aphidius ervi is an Hymenoptera Braconidae common parasitoid of different genus of aphids like Macrosiphum, Aulacorthum, Acyrtosiphon and others, all of which are characterized by larger dimensions in respect to the hosts preferred by the close species A.colemani. In the adult stage, it measures 4-5 mm and has a blackish body with the long antennas …
Aphidoletes aphidimyza is one of the midges in the family Cecidomidae that at larval stage shows a predatory behaviour in particular on many species of aphids. Newly emerged adults mate on various sites among them spider webs where they are protected by predators and can easily move thanks to the long legs. Right after, the …
Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewing) is an aphids predator very common in nature. Only the larval stages can feed on aphids, while the adult usually feeds on nectar, honeydew and other sugar sources. The adult female lay eggs right in the middle of an aphid colony, the larvae are pale brown or grey and start preying …
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, a predatory ladybird of mealybugs, is commonly applied in bio-control on citrus and ornamentals. The adult 5-6 mm long has black elytra and the rest of the body brown-orange. The larval stages could reach 14 mm. and are covered with wax. At 25ºC constant an adult female could live more than 60 days …
Delphastus catalinae is a tiny predator of whiteflies native of the American continent but recently established in southern Europe. Very voracious like other lady-beetles, it is able to feed on all whitefly stages, preferably eggs and larvae but also adults. This species prefers warm or temperate areas where it’s able to establish in stable manner. …
Diglyphus isaea is an Eulophid wasp that can be found anywhere in the Mediterranean Basin associated with Liriomyza spp. Among the natural enemies commercially available, this tiny wasp is regarded as one of the most efficient and easy to apply in several crops, especially tomato, eggplant, ornamentals and also in open field (i.e. lettuce and …
Encarsia formosa, a parasitoid of greenhouse whiteflies, is one of the first natural enemies being used. It is mainly released to control Trialeurodes vaporariorum but also Bemisia tabaci in horticoltural and ornamental crops. The adult female is a tiny wasp, 0.6 mm long, with a black and yellow body. Once found a whitefly an egg …
Eretmocerus eremicus is a small wasp able to parasitize young stages of Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci. The adult of eremicus is completely yellow with greenish eyes, and is able to control both the species of the protected crops whiteflies. Differently from Encarsia formosa, its population is composed by males and females and the host-feeding …
Macrolophus pygmaeus is a predatory mirid bug very common in the Mediterranean Basin in which can overwinter. All stages are very mobile and can prey on different whiteflies including Bemisia spp. All different stages of the pest are a good food source for larvae and adults. Tomato is the most important crop but also in …
Macrolophus pygmaeus
whitefly and Tuta absoluta predator Read More »
Nephus conjunctus is a small ladybug very effective as mealybugs predator that belongs to the family of Scymninae as well as the best-known Cryptolaemus but it is smaller, as the adult sizes just a couple of millimeters. The body is slightly pubescent, dark brown with 4 characteristic nut-brown spots. The larvae are covered by the …
Orius insidious is a predatory bug available for the control of thrips and in particular the Western Flowers Thrip, Frankliniella occidentalis, both in protected or outdoor crops like sweet pepper, strawberry, cucumber, various ornamentals. All the stages prey actively and feed also on other pests, in particular mites, aphids or moth eggs. The adult, is about …
Orius laevigatus is a predatory bug, the most important thrips predator available for the control of WFT, Frankliniella occidentalis in different climatic and cultural conditions. The main application occurs in horticulture both in protected or outdoor crops, with special interest for sweet pepper, strawberry, cucumber and some ornamentals. All the stages can actively feed also …
Orius majusculus is distinguished by other Orius species for the most elongated shape and for a different habitus that leads him to visit in addition to the flowers also the other parts of the plants. In this way it’s a better tool for control of thrips in those cultures where they colonize and damage not …
Phytoseiulus persimilis is a predatory mite for the control of the Two Spotted Spider Mite ( TSSM, Tetranychus urticae) in a wide range of protected and open field crops as strawberry, pepper, eggplant, cucurbits and many others. The adult females with the typical pear-shaped body are shiny orange, very mobile and slightly bigger than a …
Phytoseiulus persimilis
two-spotted spider mites predator Read More »
The 14-spotted ladybird is a small beetle very common in the European habitats. It feeds mostly on aphids that preys voraciously both at larval stage than as adult. Contrarily to other larges size species Propylaea visits plants even when aphid colonies are still at low density, acting as biocontrol agent already at low infestation density. …
Stratiolaelaps scimitus, formerly known as Hypoaspis miles, is a soil-living predatory mite that colonise the first layer of the substrate feeding on small arthropods or, in lack, on organic debris. Its use in biological control on ornamental and vegetables crops contributes reducing the pupal stages of the thrips or, more in general, the larval stages …
This small wasp, a parasitoid of flies of the genus Drosophila distributed worldwide, has showed a quick adaptation to the new host, the Spotted Wing Drosophila. The females of Trichopria seek for Drosophila suzukii pupae and lay an egg inside the developing larvae that are promptly killed. Contrarily to other parasitoids, Trichopria drosophilae is able to …
Trichopria drosophilae
parasitoid of SWD Drosophila suzukii Read More »
Trissolcus basalis is a Hymenoptera Scelionidae one millimetre long and black in color. It can develop on various Pentatomidae but is known worldwide for the use against the shieldbug Nezara viridula. This species is cosmopolitan just as its primary host is. T. basalis is a solitary parasitoid of shieldbug eggs. The female lay eggs inside their host recently …