Eggs packaged in cups or bags of 1,000, 5,000 or 10,000 eggs per unit. Cups contain only the eggs. Tiny larvae eat mites, mite eggs and insect eggs. Within about a week they start eating aphids. Release 2,000-3,000 eggs per acre every 2 weeks, 2-4 times OR 1 per 20 pests OR 2 per sq ft in greenhouses. Release when hatching begins: incubate cups or bags (ideal conditions 80º F, 60% RH), check each morning until tiny larvae appear in 1-4 days, sprinkle on plants directly or into paper cups placed in foliage.

Lacewing on cards are shipped with 2,500, 5,000 or 10,000 lacewing eggs glued on each card; cards are perforated to guide cutting or tearing into 30 of ¾ X 2 inch tabs with a hook on one end and containing about 86, 170 or 332 eggs. Cut and place tabs into vines, shrubs or trees when larvae begin to hatch. Tabs can also be placed inside small paper cups and either stapled to plants or hung by a knotted string (through bottom of cup). The cards can be further cut into smaller pieces for wider distribution.

Cardboard vertical honeycomb holds 400 larvae ready to feed on pests as soon as they hit the plant. Honeycomb unit has paper on one side, organdy mesh on the other, with one larva in each cell. Larvae can walk as far as 7 miles, ranging up to 100 feet while looking for pests. During 2-3 weeks of life, one lone lacewing larva can consume 250 leafhopper nymphs , 300-400 aphids, 11,200 spider mites, 3,780 coccid scale crawlers or 6,500 scale eggs. Interfering ants, waxy coatings or hard shells on pests and low temperatures deter lacewings from dining on and destroying pests. Remove organdy mesh from a few cells at a time, turn over, tap larvae onto plants near pest hotspots. Release ~20 larvae per plant. 

Eggs packaged in cups or bags of 1,000, 5,000 or 10,000 eggs per unit. Cups contain only the eggs and bags contain rice hulls as a carrier. Tiny larvae eat mites, mite eggs and insect eggs. Within about a week they start eating aphids. Release 2,000-3,000 eggs per acre every 2 weeks, 2-4 times OR 1 per 20 pests OR 2 per sq ft in greenhouses. Release when hatching begins: incubate cups or bags (ideal conditions 80º F, 60% RH), check each morning until tiny larvae appear in 1-4 days, sprinkle on plants directly or into paper cups placed in foliage.

Target pest

Aphidoletes aphidimyza is a predatory midge (a small fly). The orange maggot stage targets over 60 species of aphids and psyllids. Very cost-effective for preventive control at low aphid levels. May colonize in protected gardens and orchards, appearing year after year at first sign of aphids in spring. Reproduces in greenhouses. Pupae diapause with daylight < 16 hours, at temperatures < 54° F. Supplemental light in winter encourages new generations, but is not required. Larvae drop to soil to pupate – avoid disturbing soil. Shipped as pupae in trays or vials with vermiculite.

Shipped Wednesday, order by previous Friday

Aphelinus abdominalis

aphid parasite

Aphelinus abdominalis is a parasitic wasp that targets greenhouse, potato and foxglove aphids. Not very mobile, remains on crop and does not readily leave the greenhouse. Longer lifecycle and more offspring produced than other aphid parasites. Cannot eliminate a high population of aphids alone, so combine with another predator or parasite for a preventive program. 

Shipped Tuesday, order by previous Wednesday

Aphidius colemani is a parasitic wasp (Family: Braconidae) that attacks several species of aphid pests. A. colemani is commonly used in greenhouses that produce vegetables and ornamentals.

Shipped Tuesday, order by previous Wednesday.

Aphidius ervi (parasitic wasp) 

females seek out and parasitize over 40 aphid species.

This larger parasite selects larger hosts than A. colemani, and has a longer lifecycle. Not active above 86° F. Best used as a preventive or at first sign of aphids.

1-3 per 60 sq ft weekly OR 250 per 5,000-15,500 sq ft 3-6 times, weekly for prevention up to every 3 days for heavy infestations.

Shipped Tuesday, order by previous Wednesday.

Aphidius matricariae

(Lower Temperatures) 

Aphidius matricariae is good for green peach and 40 other aphid species. No diapause – good for use year round. Performance is reduced in late summer/fall due to naturally occurring hyperparasites. Tolerates low night temps of 50° F and short-term high temps in the high 90’s. Actively seeks scattered aphid colonies. Outdoor:  1-5 per plant or per 10 sq ft weekly OR preventive in greenhouse 400 per acre OR curative in greenhouse 1 per plant weekly OR outdoor curative 2,000 per acre, 2-3 times, 1 week apart.

Shipped Tuesday, order by previous Wednesday.

Hippodamia convergens or Convergent lady beetle adults and larvae eat aphids and require an aphid diet to lay eggs. When aphid populations are low, they will eat whitefly and some other soft-bodied insects or subsist on pollen and nectar. The convergent ladybug migrates to hibernation sites in mountain valleys where it congregates seasonally. They are collected (not grown at the insectary) in variable and recently declining numbers. So, while valuable in early spring, supplies of ladybugs are often low. As summer approaches, lady beetles can be collected again. Summer beetles disperse quickly unless contained by screening. Plan 1 per sq ft in greenhouses OR ½-1 gal per acre, 1-2 times. Release after dark, while they are cold and slow moving. Sprinkle area with water, place beetles near pests. 

Seasonally available--- collected from wild--- Lacewing preferable

This lady beetle attacks many species of mealybugs. It will also feed on aphids and immature scale insects when mealybugs are in low numbers. It may sometimes be less effective against longtailed mealybug being a high density feeder, but will reproduce when mealybug are present Both adult and larval stages are predatory, but don't mistake "crypt" larvae for mealy-bugs since both have a white, waxy coating. Two releases of approximately 1 beetle per square foot of planted area or 2 to 5 per infested plant is a guideline when mealybug populations are small. Subsequent monthly releases may be needed.

Care and Distribution: Do not refrigerate these tropical beetles! "Crypts" are shipped as adults ready for release by sprinkling on infestation sites.

Shipped Wednesday, order by previous Wednesday.

100% pure cold-pressed neem seed (Azadiracta indica) oil that makes a great plant wash. Contains azadirachtin and other phytochemicals that act as natural insect growth regulators and anti-feedants.

Dilute 1 part oil to 40 parts water with 1% soap or detergent (3 oz per gal water with 1 oz soap or 2 tsp per pint water with 1 tsp soap) for a plant wash. Spray once a week, 2-3 times.

Capsaicin-based spray kills insects by raising their body temperature, yet is harmless to plants and warm-blooded animals. Wax component of Hot Pepper Wax suffocates insects. Surviving pests find it hard to feed on the wax covered leaves and the insect repelling scent drives them away from treated plants. Repels chewing and sucking insects including aphid, whitefly, spider mite, thrips, leafhopper and scale, as well as grazing and browsing animals such as rabbits and deer. Contains capsaicin, food-grade wax, kelp, eucalyptus oil, and herb-based insect repellent scents. CA Pesticide Operator # required for commercial agricultural use. Mix 2-8 oz per gallon water. Spray on plants every 3 weeks.

• Controls adult and immature stages of whitefly, thrips, aphids, mites, and more
• Use in greenhouse and field crops
• Highest spore concentration in a Beauveria-containing insecticide
• Unique mode of action – spores infect directly through the insect’s cuticle
• 4-hour REI, 0-day PHI

• Controls adult and immature stages of whitefly, thrips, aphids, and more
• Use in greenhouse and field crops
• Highest spore concentration in a Beauveria-containing insecticide
• Unique mode of action – spores infect directly through the insect’s cuticle
• Compatible with many beneficial insects
• 4-hour REI, 0-day PHI

We carry yellow sticky cards that are sticky on both sides with peel-off coverings. For monitoring, hang every 250 square feet or, to trap emerging fungus gnats, hang horizontally over pots. Yellow attracts many insects including whitefly, winged aphid, shore fly, fungus gnat, leafminer and thrips. Note counts weekly and keep records to observe trends. Blue sticky cards are also available for attracting thrips and leafminer, especially if beneficials are attracted to yellow cards. Large sticky banners also available.

Stratiolaelaps simitus / Hypoaspis miles is a predatory mite that eats larva of fungus gnat. Also feeds on western flower thrips (WFT) pupae and springtail (especially in house plants). Lives in top layer of soil, feeds on small, soil-inhabiting insects, mites and all stages of springtails. Can adapt to many different growth media and capillary mats. No diapause: can be used year round. Active at temps > 54° F . Can survive low pest densities. Helps clean up greenhouses and mushroom production, as well as controlling mites on tarantulas, lizards and bees. Should not be applied to soil that has been treated with lime or copper sulfate mixtures. Atheta is a predator of Stratiolaelaps simitus; Stratiolaelaps simitus eats nematodes, good and bad. 10-13 L per acre OR 50 mites per 10 sq ft. Twice monthly, 2-5 times overall. Most effective applied prior to heavy infestations and for end of crop clean-up.

Shipped Wednesday, order by previous Friday

Predatory rove beetle Atheta coriaria targets western flower thrips that build up in soil under greenhouse benches. Also attacks fungus gnats and shore flies.

2 beetles per plant once a week.

Recent reports indicate Atheta may occasionally scavenge for thrips inside the buds and become stuck in the bud resin. At this point, we suggest our other predators over Atheta unless you have used with prior experience of success or are using it with test plants.  

Shipped Wednesday, order by previous Friday.  

Steinernema feltiae targets fungus gnat, shore fly, fruit fly, western flower thrips, plant parasitic nematode, root-knot nematode, fire ant, leafcutter ant. Ideal temperatures 55°-85° F. The Becker-Underwood label is Nemasys. Also a 7 million cup in vermiculite (Scanmask) is available year-round.

Release every 3-6 weeks for infestations OR every 60 days as a preventative. 1 million per 60 sq ft OR 1 billion per acre OR for pre-treating potting soil, 1-2 million per cu yd.