Biocontrol agents for greenhouses and hoop houses can be purchased online from many different businesses that rear biocontrol agents for release. The managers at these businesses can help determine the best predator, parasitoid, and pathogen to release and the correct amount to order. Three that participate in the yearly March "Biocontrol in greenhouses workshop" at Midland Hills CC are: Heidi Doering, Koppert; Carter Kent, Bioworks; and Adam Eull, Carlin sales. Attend and meet and greet live biocontrol agents at the "2022 Biocontrol in greenhouse workshop". Registration can be found at MNLA, MN Nursery and Landscape Association, under education at mnla.biz starting in Jan 2022.
Biocontrols for Aphids |
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Aphidius matricariae (parasitoid) |
Aphid Predator: The larval stage of this predatory gnat-sized insect preys on all types of aphids, in indoor and outdoor settings. Larvae grow up to 1/8 inch long and can consume aphids much larger than themselves and may kill 4-65 aphids per day. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Lady beetle / Ladybug: The most common of all beneficial insects, these voracious predators feed on aphids, adelgids, chinch bugs, asparagus beetle larvae, thrips, alfalfa weevils, bean thrips, grape root worms, Colorado potato beetle larvae, whitefly, and mites and many other soft-bodied insects and eggs. photo: Luis F. Aristizábal, University of Florida |
Lady beetle: Very common predator preys on mites, insect eggs and small larvae. Prey include pea, green peach, cabbage, and potato aphids and greenbug; eggs of European corn borer, cabbageworm, fall webworm, and corn earworm; asparagus beetle, Mexican bean beetle, and Colorado potato beetle eggs and larvae. photo: Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota |
Minute pirate bug: These tiny predators are effective against thrips, mites, aphids, and small caterpillars. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Green lacewing: These delicate predators consume aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, leafhopper nymphs, caterpillar eggs, scales, thrips, and whiteflies. Sometimes called aphid lions. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Biocontrols for Mealybugs |
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Solitary parasitoid wasp: Effective against many species of mealybugs including citrus mealybug, grape mealybug, vine mealybug and cypress mealybug. Commonly part of vineyard biocontrols. photo: Kent M. Daane, University of California |
Citrus mealybug parasite: A tiny parasitic wasp feeds and chews on citrus mealybug both indoors and outdoors. Often used in conjunction with mealybug destroyer. photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org |
Mealybug destroyer: Both the larval and adult stages of this predator lady beetle attack all stages of mealybugs. If food is scarce they will eat soft scales and aphids. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Green lacewing: These delicate predators consume aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, leafhopper nymphs, caterpillar eggs, scales, thrips, and whiteflies. Sometimes called aphid lions. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Biocontrols for Soft Scales |
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Metaphycus helvolus is one of numerous Metaphycus species that are important parasitoids of scale insects. It belongs to the family Encyrtidae native to South Africa. Female wasps lay eggs inside each scale, where the tiny maggotlike wasp larvae feed, destroying the scale. photo: Chris Mallory, Bugguide.net |
Parasitoid wasp that is a natural enemy of soft brown scale. The female wasp lays multiple eggs inside each scale, where tiny maggotlike wasp larvae feed, destroying the scale. photo: Natural History Museum, UK |
Lady beetle: Tiny black lady beetle native to Australia. Lindorus lophanthae eats mealybug and other small insects. photo: Les Miller, BASF |
Biocontrols for Armored Scales |
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Parasite: This predator provides excellent control of California red scale and other armored scale pests. photo: UC IPM |
Lady beetle: Small black lady beetle preys on euonymus scale and other armored scales in citrus groves, landscape shrubs and landscapes. photo: Tom Murray, Bugguide.net |
Biocontrols for Whiteflies |
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Predatory Mite: Used for for control of whitefly eggs and larvae (both Trialeurodes vaporariorum and Bemisia tabaci) in greenhouses. Works best in warm season conditions. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Parasitic wasp: Used for whitefly control in greenhouses on tomatoes, strawberries and in floricultural and nursery plants. photo: David Cappaert, Bugwood.org |
Parasitic wasp: Tiny wasp controls sweet potato whitefly and silverleaf whitefly in greenhouse and outdoor crops. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Lady beetle: Controls whitefleis because of its high prey consumption, long adult survival and high reproduction rates in ornamental and agricultural crops. photo: WonGun Kim, Bugguide.net |
Green lacewing: These delicate predators consume aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, leafhopper nymphs, caterpillar eggs, scales, thrips, and whiteflies. Sometimes called aphid lions. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Biocontrols for Thrips |
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Amblyseius swirskii (predator) |
Mites. Tan colored mites found on the underside of leaves effective at preventing thrips build-up when applied early in growing season or at first sign of thrips. photo: Garima Kakkar, University of Florida |
Stratiolaelaps scimitus (parasitoid) |
Minute pirate bug: These tiny predators are effective against thrips, mites, aphids, and small caterpillars. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Green lacewing: These delicate predators consume aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, leafhopper nymphs, caterpillar eggs, scales, thrips, and whiteflies. Sometimes called aphid lions. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Biocontrols for Fungus Gnats |
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Nematodes are thread-like roundworms that live in a wide range of environments including soil and fresh and salt water. Some species feed on insects, fungi, bacteria, protozoans and plants. photo: BASF |
Predatory Mite: Lives in top layer of soil and natural predator of fungus gnat pupae and snail parasite. Used by gardeners and snail breeders for pest control. photo: Koppert Biologicals |
Biocontrols for Mites |
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Predatory Mite: Used for control of broad mites in greenhouses. Use as a preventive method and when the first signs of a pest appear. More effective under warm season conditions. photo: Koppert Biological Systems |
Predatory mite: Controls spider mites on vegetables and ornamentals in greenhouses, interior plantscapes and crops where twospotted spider mites are a problem. Works best in cool condition. photo: Koppert Biologicals |
Predatory mites: Mite predator feeds on pollen and other small arthropods and also attacks tarsonemid mites. photo: Lyle Buss, University of Florida |
Minute pirate bug: These tiny predators are effective against thrips, mites, aphids, and small caterpillars. photo: Koppert Biologicals |
Green lacewing: These delicate predators consume aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, leafhopper nymphs, caterpillar eggs, scales, thrips, and whiteflies. Sometimes called aphid lions. photo: Koppert Biologicals |