Biological Controls (Biocontrol) for the Greenhouse

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

Aphidius

Aphidius matricariae (parasitoid)
Aphid Parasite: A small parasitic wasp that preys primarily upon the green peach aphid and as many as 40 other related species. This native North American parasite occurs naturally outdoors and frequently parasitizes aphids in greenhouses.
photo: Koppert Biological Services

Aphidoletes
Aphidoletes aphidoma (midge larva)
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
Hippodamia
Hippodamia convergens (predator)
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
Cmac
Coleomegilla maculata (predator)
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
Orius
Orius insidiosus (predator)
Minute pirate bug: These tiny predators are effective against thrips, mites, aphids, and small caterpillars.
photo: Koppert Biological Systems
Chrysoperla
Chrysoperla sp. (predator)
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

Anagyrus
Anagyrus pseudococci (parasitoid)
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
Leptomastix dactylopii
Leptomastix dactylopii (parasitoid)
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
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (predator)
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
Chrysoperla
Chrysoperla sp. (predator)
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

Metaphycus helvolus
Metaphycus helvolus (parasitoid) 
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
Metaphycus alberti (parasitoid)
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
Lindorus
Lindorus lophanthae also called Rhobius (predator)
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

Aphytis melinus
Aphytis melinus (parasitoid)
Parasite: This predator provides excellent control of California red scale and other armored scale pests.
photo: UC IPM
Chilocorus kuwanae
Chilocorus kuwanae (predator)
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

swirskii mite
Amblyseius swirskii (predator)
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
Encarsia
Encarsia formosa (parasitoid)
Parasitic wasp: Used for whitefly control in greenhouses on tomatoes, strawberries and in floricultural and nursery plants.
photo: David Cappaert, Bugwood.org
Eretmocerus eremicus
Eretmocerus eremicus (parasitoid)
Parasitic wasp: Tiny wasp controls sweet potato whitefly and silverleaf whitefly in greenhouse and outdoor crops. 
photo: Koppert Biological Systems
Delphastus pusillus
Delphastus pusillus (predator)
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
Chrysoperla
Chrysoperla sp. (predator)
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

swirskii mite

Amblyseius swirskii (predator)
Predatory Mite: Used for control of young thrips in greenhouses. Can be introduced as soon as pest appears. Most effective under warm season conditions.
photo: Koppert Biological Systems

Neoseiulus
Neoseiulus cucumeris (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

Stratiolaelaps scimitus (parasitoid)
Mite that 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 Biological Systems

Orius
Orius insidiosus (predator)
Minute pirate bug: These tiny predators are effective against thrips, mites, aphids, and small caterpillars.
photo: Koppert Biological Systems
Chrysoperla
Chrysoperla sp. (predator)
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

parasitic nematode
Parasitic nematodes 
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
Stratiolaelaps_scimitus
Stratiolaelaps scimitus (parasitoid)
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

swirskii mite
Amblyseius swirskii (predator)
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
spider mite
Phytoseiulus persimilis (predator)
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
mite
Neoseiulus californicus (predator)
Predatory mites: Mite predator feeds on pollen and other small arthropods and also attacks tarsonemid mites.
photo: Lyle Buss, University of Florida
Orius
Orius insidiosus (predator)
Minute pirate bug: These tiny predators are effective against thrips, mites, aphids, and small caterpillars.
photo: Koppert Biologicals
Chrysoperla
Chrysoperla sp. (predator)
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