Predatory Mites

For Pest, Mite, & Thrips Control

 

 

 

 

Overview on Thrips Biocontrols

    Amblyseius cucumeris

    Stratiolaelaps scimitus

    Feltiella acarisuga

    Amblyseius andersoni

    Amblyseius swirskii

 

   

Also see Lacewing a general predator.

Overview on Mite Biocontrols

    Phytoseiulus persimilis

    Amblyseius fallacis

    Neoseiulus californicus

    Galendromus occidentalis

    Feltiella acarisuga

     Scolothrips sexmaculatus

    Stethorus punctillum

For Bulletins on how to use each predator in a biocontrol program see Bulletins.

 

Care on delivery: Release mites soon after receiving. Hold at approximately 50 ° F (10 ° C) for up to two days. A foam box with frozen cold pack is ideal for holding predators.

Thrips Biocontrols - For Western flower thrips and onion thrips in nurseries and greenhouses, first apply Hypoaspis and Cucumeris in loose bran to seedlings. Hypoaspis attacks immature stages in soil, Cucumeris attack thrips only on the leaves. In wetter media (rock wool), Hb nematodes attack pupating thrips better than Hypoaspis. Apply more Cucumeris when plants are set out. Work towards a 1:1 ratio of Cucumeris and thrips. In crops with a low tolerance

In crops with a low tolerance for thrips damage—cucumbers and peppers—one round of slow-release hangable sachets of Cucumeris protect flowers and fruit for six to eight weeks. Orius works on thrips in the flowers, but use only when thrips are present and under control and when day length exceeds 16 hours (after March). Neither the predatory mites nor Orius are used for larger thrips (Greenhouse and Citrus Thrips). Lacewing larvae eat all large as well as small sized thrips.

 

Product descriptions in table:
 

 

BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ CODE QUANTITY PRICE
Amblyseius cucumeris

predatory mite,thrips predatorin bran carrierspecify fast release for quicker control, or slow release for prevention

no diapause

Western flower thrips,

onion thrips, (lesser extentcyclamen, broad mites)66-80° F, 65-72% RH survives on pollenstart when thrips population lowplace fast release at base of plant, hang slow release touching plant

10-100/plant

1-30/ft 2

1 X wk, 3-6 X

AC1-F

fast release

1,000/bag 3.00
10+ bags 2.20
50+ bags 1.30
100+ bags 1.17
AC20-B

bulk fast release,

liter bottle

20,000/tube 33.70
2+ tubes 25.00
AC50

bulk fast release,

liter bottle

50,000/tube 39.00
2+ tubes 33.00
5+ tubes 27.00
AC250

bulk fast release,

250,000 mites per 5L bag

 

 1+ bags 109.00
2+ bags 96.00
AC500

bulk fast release, 500,000 mites per 10L bag

1+ bags 178.00
2+ bags 168.00
5+ bags 159.00
AMBLYSEIUS CUCUMERIS, SLOW RELEASE, SATCHETS AND MINI-SACHETS
BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ

 

 CODE QUANTITY PRICE
Aprox 1,000 mites, all stages with food in sachet (bag) with hanger. Mites exit over 6-8 week period to suppress thrips thrips on plants with no pollen, esp. cucumbers, peppers, ornamental baskets – where bran carrier is a negative bag/1-5 plant

1-4 X/moreplace 2 mo

hang on plant

AC1-S

slow release

 

 1,000/bag 3.40
10+ bags 2.50
50+ bags 1.64
100+ bags 1.30
AC100-B

100 sachets with hooks, 1,000 mites/sachet, 100,000 total

1+ cases 59.60
AC200-B

200 sachets with hooks, 1,000 mites/sachet, 200,000 total

1+ cases 86.00
AC500-B

200 sachets with hooks, 1,000 mites/sachet, 500,000 total

1+ cases 172.00
2+ cases 165.00
5+ cases 153.00
ACSTX1

100 sachets with sticks, 250 mites/sachet, 25,000 total

1+ cases 45.00
2+ cases 37.50
5+ cases 31.00
AMBLYSEIOUS ANDERSONI AND AMBLYSEIUS SWIRSKII, BULK
BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ

 

 CODE QUANTITY PRICE
Amblyseius andersoni, predatory mite. Best for prevention. May diapause in late summer. Red mites, two-spot, Russet, gall mites, and often thrips

2-3 /10 sq ft

1/2 Liter /Acre

Amblyseius swirskii, predatory mite. Requires >70 deg F to develop. Does not diapause. Best when pollen is available (population grows 9x faster). Avoids webbing, hot spots, & honeydew.

 

**Eats Aphidoletes and Persimilis eggs.

 

Better for chili thrips than A. cucumermis, in hot conditions

whitefly larvae; Bemisia, GHWF, thrips eggs, russet mites, spider mites, broad mites

2-5 /sq ft

25k-50k /Acre

PMS25-B 1 bag 67.00
2+ bags 57.00
5+ bags 46.50

PMS50-B

50,000 mites in a liter tube with bran & vermiculite

 1 tubes 96.00
2+ tubes 89.00
10+ tubes 78.50

PMS125-B

125,000 mites in a 5 liter bag with bran & vermiculite

 1 bag 186.00
2+ bags 176.00
10+ bags 168.00
           
PREDATORY MITES, SLOW RELEASE SACHETS
BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ

 

 CODE QUANTITY PRICE
Amblyseius andersoni, predatory mite. Best for prevention. May diapause in late summer. Red mites, two-spot, Russet, gall mites, and often thrips

1 sachet /6-13 ft crop row

 

1 mini sachet per 6 ft crop row

 

PMA200

200 mini sachets with hooks. 250 mites /sachet (50,000 total)

 1 case 171.00
2+ cases 162.00
10+ cases 154.00

Neoseiulus californicus

warm (50° - 105°F) humid (40% - 80% RH) conditions, also tolerates low humidity

Pacific, cyclamen, TSSM,

good for lower spider mite densities, survives on pollen

1 sachet per 5 plants

 

PMC200

200 mini sachets with hooks. 125 mites /sachet (25,000 total)

 1 case 185.00
2+ cases 177.00
10+ cases 168.00

Amblyseius swirskii, predatory mite. Requires >70 deg F to develop. Does not diapause. Best when pollen is available (population grows 9x faster). Avoids webbing, hot spots, & honeydew.

 

**Eats Aphidoletes and Persimilis eggs.

 

Better for chili thrips than A. cucumermis, in hot conditions

whitefly larvae; Bemisia, GHWF, thrips eggs, russet mites, spider mites, broad mites

1 sachet /6-13 ft crop row

 

1 mini sachet per 6 ft crop row

PMS100-B

or

PMSSTX1

100 mini sachets with hooks. 250 mites /sachet (25,000 total)

*on hooks or sticks

1 case 77.00
5+ cases 67.00
10+ cases 57.00

PMS500-B

or

PMSSTX5

500 mini sachets with hooks. 250 mites /sachet (125,000 total)

*on hooks or sticks

1-4 cases 194.00
5+ cases 184.00
10+ cases 176.00

PMS1K-B

or

PMSSTX1K

1,000 mini sachets with hooks. 250 mites /sachet (250,000 total)

*on hooks or sticks

1 case 342.00
2+ cases 333.00
10+ cases 323.00

STRATIOLAELAPS SCIMITUS (STRATS)

BENEFICIAL

TARGET

RATE/FREQ

CODE

QUANTITY

PRICE
Stratiolaelaps scimitus

predatory mite, lives in top layer of soil

no diapause continue to feed, reproduce >54º F (12º C)

fungus gnat larvae, western flower thrips pupae (WFT), springtail

for house plants, GH,mushroom production,

mites on tarantula, lizard, bees(?), uses pollen

3-6 l/acre

1 l/1K ft 2

2 X/mo,

2-5 X

STRAT12 12,000/liter 39.00
2+ liters 30.50.00
10+ liters 23.00
STRAT25 25,000/liter 51.00
2+ liters 41.00
10+ liters 32.50
STRAT125 125,000/bag 115.00
2+ bags 105.00
10+ bags 95.00
STRAT250 250,000/bag 179.00
2+ bags 169.00
10+ bags 160.00
 

Plant-Feeding Mite Biocontrols – The best predatory mites for aggressiveness against two-spotted spider mite (TSSM) are Persimilis and Fallacis as long as conditions are not too hot or dry. Fallacis also eats other mites. The other predatory mites or mixtures that are available are better suited for warmer, dryer or less dense pest conditions as indicated in Target Pest column below. Making early, proactive releases to achieve a predator to prey ratio of 1:10

ensures control in a reasonable time. Insect agents also used against mites are Stethorus, Feltiella, six-spotted thrips and green lacewing. Coleomegilla, Harmonia and Hippodamia also eat mites and mite eggs. Using more than one predator adds diversity and stability to your biocontrol program. See more about these insects for mite biocontrol on the bottom of page 15. See page 18 for checking quality and holding overnight.

Persea Mite Biocontrols - Helveolus, Annectens or a mixture of one of these with Californicus are used to attack Persea mite in avocados. Franklinothrips, a naturally occurring predator, may become available. Prices for predator mites depend on source and size of unit. Prices have been increasing.

 

PHYTOSEIULUS PERSIMILIS

BENEFICIAL

TARGET

RATE/FREQ

CODE

QUANTITY

PRICE
Phytoseiulus persimilis

available carriers are:- corn grit- vermiculite

Avoid releases in temperatures below 45° F. or above 85° F and during dry windy conditions.

no diapause, inactive < 54º F (12º C)

high reproductive rate enables it to overcome its slower reproducing host in a relatively short time

 Two Spotted Spider Mites

(TSSM), Tetranychidaeprefers mild temp (50-80° F), high humidity (60% RH+), ideal 70°-85° F. (20-30° C.) at 70% RHhigher humidity, misting, favors predator over pestaggressive and economical predator for mite clean up,does best on dense, low growing plantsnot in hot greenhouses

not in dry interior valleys

1-3/m 2

1-14/10 ft 2

20K40K/acre

1 X wk

1/10 mites

 

PMP1

1,000/bottle 45.00
2+ bottles 36.00
10+ bottles 25.00
PMP2 2,000/bottle 49.00
2+ bottles 45.00
10+ bottles 37.00
PMP5 5,000/vial 69.00
2+ vials 59.00
10+ vials 50.00
PMP25 25,000/bottle 169.00
2+ bottles 162.00
20+ bottles 155.00
 

NEOSEIULUS CALIFORNICUS

BENEFICIAL

TARGET

RATE/FREQ

CODE

QUANTITY

PRICE
Neoseiulus californicus

 

californicus

warm (50° - 105°F) humid (40% - 80% RH) conditions, also tolerates low humidity

 

 

 Pacific, cyclamen, TSSM,

good for lower spider mite densities, survives on pollen, on strawberry, corn, grapes, roses, vegetables, ornamentals, interiorscapes

2/ft 2

4/plant

10K/acre

PMC1 1,000/bottle 32.00
2+ bottles 24.00
10+ bottles 19.50
PMC2 2,000/bottle 40.00
2+ bottles 34.00
10+ bottles 28.00
PMC5 5,000/bottle 63.00
2+ bottles 54.00
10+ bottles 46.00
PMC10 10,000/bottle 90.00
2+ bottles 84.00
10+ bottles 75.00
PMC25 20,000/bottle 145.00
5+ bottles 136.00
10+ bottles 127.00
PMC50 25,000/bottle 254.00
2+ bottles 245.00
10+ bottles 236.00
 

AMBLYSEIUS FALLACIS

BENEFICIAL

TARGET

RATE/FREQ

CODE

QUANTITY

PRICE
Field Mite Predator

all life stages

 

diapause light<16 hours, temp<54F (12C) supplemental light helps

 spider mites, two spotted spider mite, Pacific mite, European red mite, Bank's grass mite, for cooler temperatures (early, late season) in mint, hops, berries, fruit trees,

overwinters in cold

3/10 ft 2

1 X wk, 3 wk

1/ft 2 GH

1/plant GH

PMF1 1,000/bottle 45.00
2+ bottles 36.00
PMF2 2,000/bottle 43.00
2+ bottles 36.00
10+ bottles 28.50
PMF5 5,000/bottle 69.00
2+ bottles 59.00
10+ bottles 50.00
PMF10 10,000/bottle 98.00
2+ bottles 89.00
10+ bottles 80.00
PMF25 25,000/bottle 169.00
2+ bottles 162.00
10+ bottles 155.00
PMF50 50,000/bottle 325.00
5+ bottles 316.00
10+ bottles 306.00
 

GALENDROMUS OCCIDENTALIS

BENEFICIAL

TARGET

RATE/FREQ

CODE

QUANTITY

PRICE

Western Predatory Mite

diapause cold temperature

mites, eriophyiid mites, two spotted spider mite, Russet mites, prefers warm weather (80-110° F), tolerates dry conditions (<30% RH)

does not do well in cool coastal areas, use in GH only if plants maintained about 30% RH

2K-5K/acre early

2/sq ft.

1/5 mites

PMO1

1,000/bottle 38.00
2+ bottles 28.00
10+ bottles 20.50
PMO2 2,000/bottle 45.00
2+ bottles 38.00
10+ bottles 29.00
PMO5 5,000/bottle 75.00
5+ bottles 66.00
10+ bottles 57.00
PMO10 10,000/bottle 115.00
5+ bottles 106.00
10+ bottles 98.00
PMO25 25,000/bottle 219.00
5+ bottles 209.00
10+ bottles 199.00
PMO50

 

 50,000/bottle 325.00
5+ bottles 316.00
10+ bottles 306.00
 

INSECTS FOR MITE AND THRIPS CONTROL

BENEFICIAL

TARGET

RATE/FREQ

CODE

QUANTITY

PRICE
Feltiella acarisuga

Spider Mite Predator predatory midge

2-spot spider mite (TSSM)

good for tomato, in greenhouse, strawberries, row crops

250-1K/acre

1 wk I,

3 X

FEL250 250/tray 91.00
2+ trays 82.00
10+ trays 75.00
Orius insidiosus

Minute Pirate Bug

predatory bug

thrips & other soft- bodied insects

 

 250-5K/ac

1-2/

40 ft 2

14/plant

OR500-B 500/bottle 65.00
2+ bottles 51.00
10+ bottles 46.00
OR1000-B 1,000/bottle 94.00
2+ bottles 86.00
10+ bottles 79.50
OR2000-B 2,000/bottle 140.00
2+ bottles 129.00
10+ bottles 123.00
Stethorus punctillum

Spider Mite Destroyer,

predatory beetle

no diapause, active >54º F (12º C)

spider mites

esp. cucumber, pepper (not on tomato)

200-500/acre

low level preventive

ST50 50/vial 69.00
2+ vials 61.00
ST100 100/vial 99.00
2+ vials 89.00
 

Aphid Biocontrol

Mealybug, Scale and Whitefly Biocontrol

Mite and Thrips Biocontrol

Caterpillar (Moth) Biocontrol

Fly Control

Leafminer and etc Biocontrol

Back to Top

 

Updated March, 2026