Stethorus punctillum - Spider Mite Destroyer
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
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!
Changes/Cancellations:
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.
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.