Amblyseius cucumeris Bottled - FAQs

Should I buy bottles or sachets?
Bottles put a large number of predators on your plants at once, so they suit an infestation that's already started. Sachets release mites slowly over 2–4 weeks and suit prevention. Many growers use both.

I can't see any mites in the bottle. Is that normal?
Yes. Cucumeris are tiny and pale, and they hide in the carrier. Tip a little onto white paper in a warm room and watch with a magnifier.

What are the other tiny mites in the bottle?
Those are feeder mites. They're harmless and don't eat plants. They come packed in the carrier with the cucumeris as an instant food source, so young predatory mites have something to eat while they develop.

Will bottled cucumeris clear a heavy thrips infestation on its own?
Usually not. It eats young larvae, not adults or large larvae. Pair it with Orius insidiosus and Sf beneficial nematodes, and bring numbers down with an IPM approach.

I sprayed recently. How long do I wait before releasing?
It depends on the product. Neem oil and insecticidal soap kill predatory mites on contact, and some pesticides stay harmful for days or weeks after they dry. Look up what you used in which chemicals are safe for predatory mites, then wait the recommended interval before you release.

Is bottled cucumeris safe for people, pets and plants?
When used as directed, yes. Cucumeris isn't known to bite people or pets, and it doesn't feed on plants. It eats small pests and pollen, and its numbers fall once food runs out.