Aphidius colemani - Small-Bodied Aphid Control

$25.50

SKU:

Description

LIVE DELIVERY GUARANTEED

 

TARGET PESTS:
Many species of small-bodied aphids such as Cotton/Melon Aphid, Green Peach Aphid, Black Bean Aphid, Cannabis Aphid, and more.

 

DESCRIPTION:

Adult parasitic wasps are black 2-3mm long with long antennae and narrow abdomens. Adult females lay eggs from their abdomen by quickly curling their abdomen and puncturing an aphid simultaneously with their ovipositor. The egg, once inside the aphid, will hatch into a larva and consume the aphid. The larvae then pupates (spins a cocoon) inside the dead aphid. The mummified aphid swells into a characteristic round, golden brown mummy. The emerging adult will cut a symmetrical hole at the bottom end to escape from the mummified aphid. After injecting the aphid with an egg, it takes about a week for the mummy to form and then another week for the adult to appear. Each female can lay up to 300 eggs.

PRODUCT INFORMATION: 
Aphidius colemani are shipped as pupae. Some adults may have emerged during transit. Sex ratio 65% female.

RELEASE LOCATIONS:
Indoors and outdoors on a wide range of plants in greenhouses, vegetable crops, ornamental crops, soft fruits, tree nurseries, and various other type of crops.

 

INTRODUCTION RATES:
PREVENTATIVE RELEASE:
1-5 wasps per sq. ft., every 1-2 weeks.

CURATIVE RELEASE:

5-25 wasps per sq. ft., weekly for at least 3 weeks.

Release in the morning or evening, when environmental conditions are favorable. Release immediately upon receipt. Sprinkle contents onto infested plant leaves or into Hanging Release Boxes and hang on infested plants. Do not place directly on soil. Keep product dry.

It's important to note that these introduction rates serve as general guidelines and may vary based on the specific pest species, the crop or plant being treated, and level of infestation. Proper monitoring of the infestation and the subsequent effectiveness of the released beneficial insect population is crucial for determining the success of the biological control strategy.

 

HANGING RELEASE BOXES:

Use NaturesGoodGuys Hanging Release Boxes to release your predators without making a mess! Release boxes help you concentrate predators on infested areas and help to keep your product dry.


Pesticides and even wetting agents and spreader-stickers may adversely affect beneficial insect survival. Broad spectrum and systemic insecticides are toxic to these wasps.

 

LIFE CYCLE
Egg  |  Larval  |  Pupal  |  Adult
The egg stage lasts around 3 to 5 days before hatching into a larva, which feeds on the aphid for about 7 to 9 days. During the pupal stage, which lasts approximately 5 to 7 days, the larva transforms and forms a cocoon inside the mummified aphid. The mummification process takes around 2 to 3 days. Finally, after 1 to 2 days, the adult wasp emerges from the mummy. Overall, the lifecycle from egg to adult spans approximately 18 to 26 days.

It's important to note that these time-frames are approximate and can be influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, and the availability of prey. Monitoring the development and activity of beneficial insect populations, along with environmental conditions, can help determine the progress and effectiveness of their role in pest control efforts.

 

STORAGE
Release immediately upon receipt. If storage is necessary, store at 39-46°F for no longer than 24hrs.

 

PRO TIPS:
Remove any yellow sticky traps for the first few days after release.


 

 

 

 

TARGET PESTS

Scientific Names: Aphidius colemani

Small-Bodied Aphid Species such as Green Peach Aphids, Melon/Cotton Aphids, Black Bean Aphids,  Aphids, & various other aphid species.


PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

LIVE DELIVERY GUARANTEED

Aphidius colemani controls smaller-bodied aphids. Use in conjunction with other aphid predators.


A. colemani are versatile parasitoids specialized in targeting smaller aphid species. Typically measuring around 2-3mm, adult A. colemani are commonly black or dark brown, characterized by their slender, translucent bodies, elongated antennae, and wings adorned with distinctive patterns. Despite their diminutive size, these agile predators are adept at locating aphid colonies, where female parasitoids deposit eggs directly into hosts. Following a brief 3-5 day incubation period, the eggs hatch into larvae, which actively consume the aphids over the next 5-10 days as they mature. Upon completion of development, the larvae enter the pupal stage, giving rise to a new generation of adults emerging from the aphid mummies, thus perpetuating the reproductive cycle essential for sustainable aphid management. Throughout their approximately two-week lifespan, females have the capacity to lay over 100 eggs.

CROPS

CROPS
Vegetable Crops
Soft Fruit Crops
Hemp
Ornamental Crops
Tree Nurseries

USAGES
Greenhouses
Indoor Facilities
Field Crops
Gardens

INTRODUCTION RATES

1-5 insects per 10 sq. ft., weekly, 2-3 times
Temperature Range: 50-86°F

It's important to note that these release rates serve as general guidelines and can differ depending on the specific pest species, the plant being treated, and level of infestation. Proper monitoring of the infestation and the released beneficial insect population is crucial for determining the success of the biological control strategy.
APPLICATION

Gently disperse insects onto infested plants. Leave open container on it's side, in place for 24 hours to allow any remaining insects to be introduced.

Do not place product directly onto soil or substrate. Ensure the product contents remain dry and are not moved from the introduction site for a few days.

PRO TIPS
  • HANGING BOXES
    Use NaturesGoodGuys Hanging Boxes to introduce your predators without making a mess! Hanging boxes help you concentrate predators on infested areas and help to keep your product dry.

  • Remove any yellow sticky traps for the first few days after introduction.

  • Mummies can be observed on leaves of the crop 10-14 days after the first application.

  • Aphelinus abdominalis produces black mummies, where others such as Aphidius colemani and Aphidius ervi produce golden/brown mummies.
  • A perfectly round hole at the back of the mummy indicates that an adult parasitoid has emerged.

  • Depending on the size and type of plants, the number and type of pests, other predator and parasite populations, and temperature, the frequency of releases may be affected.

     

STORAGE

For best results, introduce immediately upon receipt. If storage is necessary, store at 39-46°F for no longer than 48 hours. Store out of direct sunlight. Do not freeze.

DISCLAIMER

Store Policies

Please review our store policies below on Shipping & Processing, Live Delivery Guarantee, and Returns/Replacements. By placing your order, you are agreeing to these policies. Thank you!

Thank you for shopping with us! No recommendation on pesticide use has been made by, or provided to, by the seller concerning the use of the pesticide covered by this website. Purchaser claims is for home use only and "not for commercial use".
Shipping & Processing:
Please allow 1-3 business days to process your order. At Natures Good Guys, we offer a variety of shipping methods for you to choose from when checking out after your purchase to give you flexibility. Overnight shipping and Second day are shipping services that we offer, however, choosing those services does not mean your order will ship the same day your order was placed. Overnight and second day shipping starts at transit time NOT when the order is placed.  While every effort will be made to expedite your order, we cannot guarantee same day order processing. Orders are shipped as quickly as possible and according to the availability of the product. Tracking information for UPS, USPS and FedEx deliveries will automatically be sent to your email if and when that information is available. 
Harvest Delays:
Please note that while we make our best attempt to keep all of our products in stock, nature sometimes thinks differently! We need to work with the natural reproductive cycles of living organisms, which means that on occasion your order will be delayed. Certain insects are harvested on specific days only, and sometimes our harvest will be delayed. In such a case, we will make our best attempt to send your order as soon as possible, or notify you through email or phone if there will be a significant delay.
Overnight Shipping:
We ship Overnight orders from Mon-Thurs and Second day orders from Mon-Wed (excluding holiday weeks/schedule varies), in order to prevent bugs from sitting in warehouses all weekend long and to assure their viability upon arrival. Second day orders will ship on Thursdays but only those whose address is Saturday deliverable. We do NOT ship Overnight and Second day orders Fri-Sun. USPS orders ship from Mon-Fri. Our cutoff time is 12 PM (pacific time). Please provide an email and phone number when placing your order, in case of a delay we will notify you to inform you about the delay and when to expect your order.  We DO NOT ship to PO boxes. We reserve the right to withhold shipments due to weather extremes or holidays.

Changes/Cancellations:
Due to the high volume of orders we process, we kindly ask that you notify us within 30 minutes of placing your order for any changes or cancellation requests. If you reach out to us after the order has already entered production, we will make our best efforts to accommodate your request; however, we cannot guarantee its feasibility at that stage.
Live Delivery Guarantee:
At NaturesGoodGuys, we are committed to providing you with the highest quality beneficial insects to enhance your gardening experience. Our Live Delivery Guarantee means that if you receive insects that are not viable upon delivery, you can contact us for a resolution.Simply email us at naturesgoodguys@gmail.com, providing your order number and a detailed description of the issue you encountered. We may require photos of both the insects and the packaging they arrived in. Our dedicated team will work diligently to address the problem and find a suitable solution.

Please note that our Live Delivery Guarantee pertains specifically to the condition of the insects at the time of delivery and does not cover instances where insects may perish at a later stage.   We will exercise our discretion to assess whether your situation falls within the time frame qualifying for our policy. Factors such as the insect species, hatching time, temperature conditions, and other relevant considerations will be taken into account to determine the applicability of the guarantee. For non-hatching insects, you must contact us within 48 hours of delivery in order to be considered for the guarantee. Replacements will only be processed/shipped on Wednesdays & Thursdays.

Upon receiving your package from NaturesGoodGuys, we highly recommend opening it immediately and checking for a sticker indicating the need for refrigeration. It's crucial to carefully read the instructions included for specific storage information to ensure the well-being of your beneficial insects. We are not responsible for replacements due to incorrect storage methods.

One important thing to note is that we do not expect ice packs to remain frozen or cold upon delivery. Ice packs serve as a temporary measure to help maintain moisture and temperatures during transit.Please keep in mind that some insects may require time to adjust and recover from transit before they become active. If you don't observe immediate movement upon opening the package, this doesn't necessarily mean they are not viable. Give them a little time, and monitor for signs of activity as they settle into their new environment. Most of our insects are difficult to see without magnification.

Some species/quantities do not have multiple shipping methods to choose from because they require short transit time for viability. For those who have concerns about the well-being of their insects during transit, we suggest selecting overnight shipping. This ensures that your beneficial insects spend minimal time in transit, reducing stress and maximizing their chances of arriving in optimal condition.
Returns/Replacements:
If you have received an item that is damaged, defective or incorrect, please contact us immediately when you receive your shipment to resolve the problem. We do not typically ask for dead insects to be sent back to us, but replacements can be scheduled if the order is qualified, which is determined by customer support (please read our Live Delivery Guarantee). Please note that while we will happily replace packages that have been damaged, incorrect, or lost, we are not responsible for dead insects in the following situations:

1. Customer input the incorrect shipping information: If the customer contacts our help line BEFORE their order has been processed to correct an address error we will be able to perform this change for you so that you can receive your order.
2. Customer did not follow the instructions included with the shipped item: All of our items including our beneficial insects are shipped with instructions on proper use and storage (this can also be found on our website). Failure to follow the printed instructions or using a product other than for its intended uses will result in unsatisfactory results. Each case of unsatisfactory results are unique, therefore a customer service agent will help assess if the instructions were followed before any further actions can be taken on a claim.
3. Customer's inability to receive the shipment in a timely fashion after delivery. If a customer is not home to accept the package when it is delivered, it is either taken back to the post office or left exposed to the elements in your yard or mailbox and this will cause stress to the insects, potentially resulting in insect death. Make sure that when you place an order you arrange a convenient time to be home to accept the shipment when it is delivered. We provide tracking information on all shipped orders so that the customer can be aware of when they should be expecting their order. Do not place an order you do not think you will be home to accept as we will not replace packages that die out of customer negligence.