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.
RELEASE 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 release 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.
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:
Proper identification of aphid species is important. Monitoring the crop closely and early releases will help overcome the pest problem.
Remove any yellow sticky traps for the first few days after release.
