Gault’s Place

“Cryptolaemus is a small dark brown ladybug with an orange head and tail. The larvae are up to 13mm long and are white with a wax like covering. The pupae are found in sheltered places; stems, underside of leaves, greenhouse structures. Preferred food: The adults and larvae feed on all stages of the mealy bugs. Young Cryptolaemus and larvae prefer mealybug eggs and smaller stages of the mealybug. When no mealybugs are available Cryptolaemus will also feed on aphids, scale, mites, thrips, whitefly, and other soft bodied insects. Shipment, biology and release: Shipped as adults and most effective in high infestations. Optimal conditions are 61-91 degrees F with a relative humidity between 70-80%. Application rates: 5/infested plant; 250-1,000/acre. First release should be in early spring. Release Cryptolaemus on the infected plants in the evening or early morning. Shipping Included in Price Orders placed by Tuesday are shipped the following Tuesday. PLEASE CALL FOR AVAILABILITY.”

“Description These 3 mm. mini-wasps are best used for preventing the establishment of several leafminer species. They can also tackle minor infestations. And, if established, they can adequately protect a crop throughout the season. D. siberica,, which are shipped as pre-emerged, pre-fed adults, are the product of choice when leafminers are first seen, or soon expected to be seen, in a cooler area. They do best in cooler conditions.Some of the several species which can be controlled with these parasitoids include the Florida, chrysanthemum or serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza trifolii), the tomato leafminer (L. bryoniae) and many others of economic importance. Life-style These parasitoids work by laying eggs directly into the larvae of leafminers. And they can lay up to 72 eggs, killing a like number of the larvae. They do this while the larvae are working in their mines or tunnels. These mines are created as the larvae consume the leaf’s mesophyll (the cells which make the center of t”

“Use these predators in addition to spider mite predators (predatory mites) when spider mite populations are especially high. Spider-mite destroyers are very efficient locators of spider mite colonies in greenhouse and field crops. Actually tiny ladybugs, spider-mite destroyers earn their keep by eating more than 40 mites per day as adults. Use these predators in addition to spider-mite predators (predatory mites) when spider-mite populations are especially high. Spider-mite destroyers eat all stages of spider-mites, and find new infestation sites on their own by flying. Life cycle Egg to adult takes about 18 days at 70°F with a total lifespan of perhaps 9 weeks. As adults, female spider-mite destroyers lay up to 15 eggs per day.100 spider-mite destroyers is enough to get a colony of them started in an average home greenhouse, as they’ll breed from there. Spider-mite destroyers are too new to have established preferred temperature ranges, but they’re known to survive temperature”

“Description These 2 mm. mini-wasps, like D. siberica, are best used for preventing the establishment of several leafminer species. They can also tackle minor infestations. And, if established, they can adequately protect a crop throughout the season.D. isaea, which are shipped as pre-hatched, pre-fed adults, are the product of choice when leafminers are first seen, or soon expected to be seen, in a warmer area. They do best in warmer conditions. D. isaea, like D. siberica, can control the Florida, chrysanthemum or serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza trifolii), the tomato leafminer (L. bryoniae) and many others of economic importance. D. isaea can control 18 known species from 4 different genera, not just the genus Liriomyza. Life-style These parasitoids, work by “stinging” (oviposition) the larvae of leafminers while they work in their mesophyll mines with their ovipositors (egg-laying apparati). The stinging conveys a paralyzing toxin to the pests. The toxin works right away, the larvae”