Stethorus punctillum - Spider Mite Destroyer
SKU:
TARGET PESTS:
Two-Spotted Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae), European Red Mites (Panonychusulmi), Spruce Spider Mites (Oligonycus ununguis) and Southern Red Mites (Oligonychus ilicis).
DESCRIPTION:
Stethorus is a specialized spider mite predator in the lady beetle family. Adults are tiny, 1.5mm (1/10 inch) long, dark brown to black, oval beetles with brownish-yellow antennae, mouthparts and legs. The larvae are slow-moving, gray, with conspicuous legs. They move from plant to plant on leaves. Eggs are yellowish ovals, laid singly in or near mite colonies. Adult beetles can fly and have an unusually good ability to find small infestations of spider mites. If necessary, beetles can be stored for a few days at 10° – 16°C (50°-61°F), but longer storage will reduce egg laying and adult life span.
INTRODUCTION RATES:
Introduce a minimum of 100 adults per “hot spot”, or 10 adults per infested plant, weekly, for 3-4 weeks. Moderate Rate: 100 Stethorus per “hot spot”, or 3-4 beetles/ 10 sq.ft, weekly until established in all infested areas.
LIFESPAN:
The complete life cycle takes 14 to 20 days at 21° – 26°C (70-80 F). Female beetles lay 3 – 13 eggs per day. Over their long life span (up to 2 years), females can lay over 1000 eggs. Females must eat 20 – 40 spider mites per day to initiate and sustain egg laying. Larvae feed for 10-14 days. A single larva can consume 240 spider mites as it develops from egg to adult. Older larvae migrate down the plant to pupate and pupae are often found along leaf veins on the undersides of leaves. Adults emerge from pupae in 6-7 days. Both larvae and adult beetles feed on all stages of mites. Adults can eat over 50 mite eggs and 10 adult mites per day. If food is scarce, they will also feed on other small arthropod eggs, aphids, nectar and pollen, and will cannibalize their own species.
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS:
Best control of spider mites is achieved when Stethorus is used along with predatory mites. Use care when removing leaves from infested plants. Keep any leaves with Stethorus pupae in the greenhouse one week or until adult beetles have emerged.The pesticide, fenbutatin oxide (Vendex ), can be used with Stethorus for additional control of spider mites if “hot spots” develop. It does not harm Stethorus, but avoid over-spraying, which reduces the predators’ food supply and their ability to reproduce. Spreader-stickers, supreme oils and soaps are harmful to beetles contacted by the spray, but have little residual activity.
Two-Spotted Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae), European Red Mites (Panonychusulmi), Spruce Spider Mites (Oligonycus ununguis) and Southern Red Mites (Oligonychus ilicis).
DESCRIPTION:
Stethorus is a specialized spider mite predator in the lady beetle family. Adults are tiny, 1.5mm (1/10 inch) long, dark brown to black, oval beetles with brownish-yellow antennae, mouthparts and legs. The larvae are slow-moving, gray, with conspicuous legs. They move from plant to plant on leaves. Eggs are yellowish ovals, laid singly in or near mite colonies. Adult beetles can fly and have an unusually good ability to find small infestations of spider mites. If necessary, beetles can be stored for a few days at 10° – 16°C (50°-61°F), but longer storage will reduce egg laying and adult life span.
INTRODUCTION RATES:
Introduce a minimum of 100 adults per “hot spot”, or 10 adults per infested plant, weekly, for 3-4 weeks. Moderate Rate: 100 Stethorus per “hot spot”, or 3-4 beetles/ 10 sq.ft, weekly until established in all infested areas.
LIFESPAN:
The complete life cycle takes 14 to 20 days at 21° – 26°C (70-80 F). Female beetles lay 3 – 13 eggs per day. Over their long life span (up to 2 years), females can lay over 1000 eggs. Females must eat 20 – 40 spider mites per day to initiate and sustain egg laying. Larvae feed for 10-14 days. A single larva can consume 240 spider mites as it develops from egg to adult. Older larvae migrate down the plant to pupate and pupae are often found along leaf veins on the undersides of leaves. Adults emerge from pupae in 6-7 days. Both larvae and adult beetles feed on all stages of mites. Adults can eat over 50 mite eggs and 10 adult mites per day. If food is scarce, they will also feed on other small arthropod eggs, aphids, nectar and pollen, and will cannibalize their own species.
STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS:
Best control of spider mites is achieved when Stethorus is used along with predatory mites. Use care when removing leaves from infested plants. Keep any leaves with Stethorus pupae in the greenhouse one week or until adult beetles have emerged.The pesticide, fenbutatin oxide (Vendex ), can be used with Stethorus for additional control of spider mites if “hot spots” develop. It does not harm Stethorus, but avoid over-spraying, which reduces the predators’ food supply and their ability to reproduce. Spreader-stickers, supreme oils and soaps are harmful to beetles contacted by the spray, but have little residual activity.
TARGET PESTS
Two-Spotted Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae), European Red Mites (Panonychusulmi), Spruce Spider Mites (Oligonycus ununguis) and Southern Red Mites (Oligonychus ilicis).
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
LIVE DELIVERY GUARANTEED
Spider mite destroyer.
Stethorus punctillum is a member of the Coccinellid Beetle family, commonly known as ladybugs. These Spider Mite Destroyers are spider mite specialists but will supplement their diet with aphids and other small soft-bodied insects when spider mite populations are low. They are recognized by their distinctive round, dome shape, dark brown to black body about 1.5mm in size, fine hairs on its wing covers, and characteristic brownish-yellow markings on its mouth parts, legs, and antennae. Both the adults and larvae play a crucial role in targeting spider mites at all stages, especially two spotted spider mites.
Females lay small, oval-shaped eggs on the undersides of plant leaves, close to areas infested with spider mites. The eggs hatch within 2-3 days into elongated, alligator-like larvae that actively feed on immature spider mites. The larval stage is a critical period for predation on pest populations before entering the pupal stage for about 4-7 days. When fully formed adults emerge, they continue to feed on spider mites in all life stages, and other soft-bodied pests if necessary, for their 2-4 week lifespan.INTRODUCTION RATES
10 Beetles per infested plant, weekly, 3-4 times.
Or 100 beetles per "Hot Spot," weekly until established
Temperature Range: 68-86°F
Humidity: 60-80%
APPLICATION
Locate plants with Spider Mite infestations. Disperse beetles onto infested area by sprinkling bottle contents directly onto plants. Leave open container in place for 24 hours to allow any remaining beetles to be introduced.
PRO TIPS
- For complete control of a spider mite infestation, use in conjunction with predatory mites such as:
Amblyseius andersoni - Generalist that tolerates high heats
Amblyseius cucumeris - Thrips & Spider Mite Control
Amblyseius swirskii - Spider Mite, Thrips, & Whitefly Control
Neoseiulus californicus - Generalist that tolerates high heats
Phytoseiulus persimilis - Two-Spotted Spider Mite Specialist
- For complete control of a spider mite infestation, use in conjunction with Feltiella acarisuga, an effective predator of spider mites that can fly.
- Proper identification of the pest species is important. Monitoring the crop closely and introducing beneficial insects early will help in control pest populations.
- Pesticides, even wetting agents, and spreader-stickers may adversely affect beneficial insects' survival. Broad spectrum and systemic insecticides are toxic.
STORAGE
For best results, introduce immediately upon receipt. If storage is necessary, store at 50-60°F for no longer than 18 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:
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.
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.