Catalog of Beneficials

 

Mealybug, Scale, and Whitefly Control

Overview on Mealybug Controls

    Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

    Leptomastix dactylopii

Overview on Scale Biocontrol

    Aphytis melinus

    Lindorus lopanthae

      (also known as Rhyzobius lopanthae)

Overview on Whitefly Biocontrols

   Delphastus catalinae

   Encarsia formosa

   Eretmocerus californicus

Also see Lacewing a general predator.

For Bulletins on how to use each of these insects in a biocontrol program see Bulletins.

 

Mealybug Biocontrols - Several releases of Cryptolaemus or green lacewing may be needed especially in winter. "Crypts" are suggested for high levels and in warm, humid conditions and lacewing for more varied conditions. Where "Crypts" are attracted away from plants to skylights and windows, lacewing are better. Lindorus eat mealybug, but need scale to reproduce.

At different optimum temperatures Leptomastix complements use of predators against different host stages of citrus mealybug only. Reduce high levels of mealybug with predators followed by wasps or begin biocontrol with Beauveria (Naturalis) or Neem oil before releasing biocontrol agents. Hb nematodes attack root mealybug in soil. Remove ant interference if present.

 

BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ CODE QUANTITY PRICE
Leptomastix dactylopii

Citrus Mealybug Parasite parasitic wasp

Supply available soon

 citrus mealybug, 3rd instar and adult

prefers 78° F, 60-65% RH

 1-2/10 ft2

5/plant

 LEP100 100/vial 105.00
2+ vials 95.00
5+ vials 88.00 ea
 
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

adults

Mealybug Destroyer

predatory beetle

prefers 60-90° F, 70-80% RH

larva

 mealybug, scale, aphid, adult & larvae both feed on all stages of mealybug, larva looks like a giant mealybug,

do not refrigerate, hold at room temp. or 50° F

 5/plant

2-5/yd2

1K-2K/acre

1-2 X, inoc

 CR100 100/tube 42.00
2+ tube 34.50ea
5+ tube 27.00 ea
10+ tube 24.50 ea
CR250 250/tube 57.00
2+ tubes 48.50 ea
5+ tubes 44.00
10+ tubes 40
CR2500 2,500/tub 385.00
2+tubs 377.00
5+tubs 370.00
    schedule of 8 shipments

CR250X8

250/tube

56.00

2+ tubes

51.00

 

5+ tubes

  

47.00

 

SCALE BIOCONTROLS – Lindorus lopanthae and green lacewing favor soft scale if not too sticky. Cybocephalus is more specialized for certain scale. Cryptolaemus eat scale, but need mealybug to lay eggs. Aphytis melinus attacks certain armored scale, but may not attack all species in a family. Use of appropriate species in sufficient numbers in regular releases can suppress or control infestations in two to three months. Then, one to three releases per year should maintain control. Hot Pepper Wax sprays may help clean up some scale problems.

BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ CODE QUANTITY PRICE
Aphytis melinus

Golden Chalcid

parasitic wasp

parsitizes 2nd, 3rd instar female, 2nd, pre pupal male, host feeds other stages

 Armored scale, California red, citrus red, oleander, San Jose, ivy, walnut, Dytyospermum, and citrus yellow scale 5K-10K/acre

1-2/ft2 GH

5-10/plant

1 wk I, 3 X

 AP5 5,000/cup 31.50
2+ cups 21.50 ea
5+ cups 13.90 ea
AP10 10,000/cup 38.70
2+ cups 28.40 ea
5+ cups 20.50 ea
10+ cups 17.60 ea

Cybocephalus nipponicus

predatory beetle

 Euonymus scale, San Jose scale colony CYBO100 100/bottle 47.00
2+ bottles 38.00ea
5+ bottles 32.00ea
Lindorus lopanthae

( also known as Rhyzobius lopanthae)

Scale Destroyer

predatory beetle

 hard scale

soft scale until honey-

dew forms, will eat some mealybug, other small insects,

prefers 60-77° F, 20-90% RH

larvae, adult both predators

 3-5/plant

20-40/tree

1-2 K/acre

3 wk I, 2 X

3-6/10 ft2 GH

 LIN50 50/vial 43.00
2+ vials 32.70ea
5+ vials 25.00ea
10+ vials 22.000ea
LIN100 100/vial 59.00
2+ vials 49.50 ea
5+ vials 43.00ea
10+ vials 40.00ea
LIN250 250/vial 99.00
2+ vials 93.00 ea
5+ vials 88.00 ea
10+ vials 84.00 ea
   

 

Whitefly Biocontrols – General predators used most are Delphastus and green lacewing. Delphastus is introduced early in hot spots. Inoculative releases take 3 weeks to turn a generation that yields 100 times more beetles. Unlike lacewing, Delphastus don’t eat parasitized whitefly. Lacewing are more affordable in inundative numbers in regular releases or to maintain control of other pests besides whitefly. Encarsia formosa does best against Greenhouse whitefly (GHWF), Trialeurodes vaporariorum and will attack Bemesia (silverleaf or sweet potato whitefly).

Eretmocerus does best against Bemesia, woolly, citrus and bayberry whitefly, and will parasitize GHWF. GHWF adults are white, wings together parallel to leaf surface. Bemesia adults are yellow, wings slightly apart showing abdomen and at an angle to leaf surface. A fringe rings the edge of white GHWF nymphs and no eye spots are visible; Bemesia nymphs are yellow with no fringe, but eye spots are visible. GHWF lays eggs in circular patterns while Bemesia lays its eggs singly. High populations may need to be reduced with Beauveria (Naturalis), soap (Dr. Bronner’s), neem, or Hot Pepper Wax before introducing biocontrols.

 

BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ CODE QUANTITY PRICE
Delphastus catalinae

(=D. pusillus)

Whitefly Predator

predatory beetle

no diapause active >54º F (12º C)

 whitefly - for high WF density

 1-2/100 ft2

1 X inoc

 DE100 100/bottle 35.00
2+ bottles 25.00 ea
5+ bottles 19.00 ea
DE1000 1,000/bottle 99.00
2+ bottles 98.00
5+ bottles 89.60
   
Encarsia formosa

Greenhouse Whitefly (GHWF) Parasite

parasitic wasp

strip = 10 units of 100 parasitized scale glued on perforated cards with hooks

yields 1K parasitic wasps

no diapause, inactive < 54º F (12º C)

loose parasitized scale in increments of 1,000, better distribution than with strips

 Greenhouse whitefly (WF), attacks 2nd instar

proactive 8 to 10 weeks covers susceptible stage

silverleaf WF less preferred host

low pest density only

 1-5/10 ft2

1 wk I, 4-6 X

2-4/ ft2 GH

8/ tom.plant

drawing CA-DPR

 EN1 1 strip 15.00
2+ strips 19.50ea
5+ strips 8.70 ea
10+ strips 7.40ea
40+strips 5.90 ea
   
     
   
   
   
   
   
loose scale in bulk minimum 5,000 or 1 ml ENBULK 5K+ (1 ml) 9.30/K
10K+ (2 ml) 7.15/K
40K+ (4 ml) 5.20/K
   
ENBULKX16 5K+ 7.20/K
10K+ 5.70/K
40K+ 4.70/K
   
Eretmocerus californicus

(=E. eremicus)

Bemesia Parasite,

parasitic wasp

Eretmocerus (ER) cards

16 separate blister-pack cards each with 500 parasitized scale

yields 8K parasitic wasps

 silverleaf, sweet potato whitefly (Bemesia), woolly, citrus, bayberry, lesser extent greenhouse whitefly

for low pest density

use proactively for 4 to 10 weeks--covers susceptible larval stage

 5-20/10 ft2 

 

 

 

 ER3 3,000/bottle 58.00
2+ bottles 47.00 ea
5+ bottles 42.50 ea
10+ bottles 40.00 ea
ER3 X4

4 shipments

 3,000/bottle 49.00
2+ bottles 47.00 ea
5+ bottles 42.50 ea
ER10 10,000/bottle 134.00
2+ bottles 124.00 ea
5+ bottles 116.00 ea
   

ER10 X4

four shipments

10,000/bottle 123.00
2+ bottles 118.00 ea
5+ bottles 113.00 ea

ERCARDSX4

5K/set of 10

1 set

71.00

ERCARDS

500/card=5K

 5,000/set of 10 95.00
2+ sets 66.30ea 2+ sets 85.00ea
5+ sets 63.50ea 5+ sets 79.00ea
10+ sets 76.00ea

Encarsia/Eretmocerus,

Eretmocerus eremicus & Encarsia formosa together on cards, 250 mix/card, 40 cards, 10,000 total

for mixed greenhouse and sweet potato

whitefly 2nd to 4th instar larvae

  ENERCD 10,000set 40cd 129.00
2+ sets 119.00ea
5+ sets 111.00ea
4 or more shipments ENERCDX4 10,000/set 40cd 119.00
2+ sets 113.00ea
5+ sets 107.00ea

Eretmocerus mundus

Bemesia Parasite, parasitic wasp for low pest density, use proactively for 4 to 10 weeks, to cover larval stage

Bemisia and other whitefly 2nd to 3rd instar, under Mediterranean conditions

60 wasps/card

5 cards/strip

1-6/10 ft2

1 wk I,

4-10 X

EMCARD3

10 strips

3,000/set 79.00
2+ sets 66.00ea

EMCARD15

50 strips

15,000/set 271.00
2+sets 257.00ea
5+sets 249.00
4 or more shipments

EMCARD3 X4

 3,000/set 68.00
2+ sets 61.00ea
EMCARD15X4 15,000/set 251.00ea
2+ sets 247.00ea
5+ sets 242.00ea

Aphid Biocontrol

Mealybug, Scale and Whitefly Biocontrol

Mite and Thrips Biocontrol

Caterpillar (Moth) Biocontrol

Fly Control

Leafminer and etc Biocontrol