These are live insects and MUST be shipped OVERNIGHT. No USPS or ground shipping.
Target Pests:
Carmine red mites (T. cinnabarinus), Citrus red mite, European red mites (Panonychusulmi), Pacific mites, Privet mites, Cyclamen mites, Broad mites, Tomato russet mites, Rust mites, Two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychusurticae), Six spotted mites, Spruce spider mites (Oligonychusununguis), Southern red mites and other species.
Release Rates:
Apply Fallacis at the first sign of a mite infestation for optimum effectiveness. Fallacis will usually become established in the crop after one introduction, where they remain if mites or pollen are available for food. When prey become scarce, Fallacis moves to the top of the plant and usually disperses throughout the crop in the wind. When predators are found on each infested leaf, it usually means that the biological control program will be successful. It may take another 2-6 weeks for new plant growth to show improvement, depending on growth rates.
General Introduction Rates:
2-4 Fallacis per sq. ft.
Lifespan:
Development from egg to adult takes from 7-9 days at 21°C (70°F); to 3 days at 32°C (85°F). In the field, under optimum conditions, populations can increase from 10 predators per 100 leaves to 200-500 predators per 100 leaves, in just 2 weeks. Adult females lay 1-5 eggs per day, for a total of 26-60 eggs over their 14-62 day lifetime. The eggs hatch in 2-3 days. Eggs are oval and twice the size of two-spotted mite eggs. Female Fallacis eat 2-16 spider mites per day. Adult females enter diapause in response to the short days in the fall (14 hours or less).
Strategic Considerations:
To reduce mortality of predatory mites from pesticides, release predators 10 days after spraying. The pesticide fenbutatin oxide (Vendex®) can be used with Fallacis for additional control of spider mites if “hot-spots” develop. It does not harm Fallacis, but avoid over spraying, which reduces the predator’s food supply and their ability to reproduce. Spreader-stickers, supreme oils and soaps are harmful to predators contacted by the spray, but have little residual activity.
