Have you read the introductory First Thing’s First?
Thrips Control Agents
Neoseiulus cucumeris
Release these mites at sundown the day of receipt (if supplied in Slow Release packets, place packets right away). To release, if supplied in bulk or fast-release packet form, gently rotate the shaker canister or fast-release packet to distribute the mites evenly within the carrier. Next, open the screw top (or tear off the packet’s top) in the crop, remove the filter paper, re-secure the screw top and gently tap them out of the shaker canister through the small holes evenly onto the foliage of the plants in the area to be treated. Or use a whirlybird type spreader to speed and widen the release area. Concentrate the bulk of them at release points on or near the most heavily infested plants. Leave the shaker canister and filter paper in the treatment area for 24 hours after release to ensure all mites have exited. To release, if supplied in slow-release packets, hang the packets by their supplied hooks from the branches of the plants in the treatment area. The packets are primarily used for preventive programs, however, in some cases (in the winter time in hydroponic crops where other controls are impractical) tear off the corner of the packet to expedite mite auto-distribution. Leave packets in place, in either case for no less than 8 weeks. Supplying these predators with certain plantings (flowering, pollen producing plants), at or near the release site, may increase their egg laying activity. Do not store the mites in the bulk shaker canister or fast-release packet for more than 5 days. Hold at a slightly to moderately humid 55-65°F. The slow-release packets are designed to be left in a typical greenhouse environment-assuming humidity is not too high-for up to 8 weeks.
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Hypoaspis miles
Release these mites at sundown within 2 weeks of arrival, the sooner the better (please note storage requirements below). Water the medium or soil no sooner than ten minutes before releasing these mites and wait a couple of hours before watering after the release. To release, gently rotate the shaker canister to distribute the mites evenly within the carrier. Next, open the screw top in the crop area, remove the filter paper, re-secure the screw top and gently tap them out of the shaker canister through the small holes evenly onto the slightly damp growing medium or soil or Shiitake “logs.” These mites should also be released onto dirt and gravel floors, around greenhouse weeds, under benches and ground covers, and any place fungus gnat larvae and pupae or thrips’ pupae and pre-pupae may develop. Concentrate the bulk of them at release points near the most heavily infested or most active breeding areas. Leave the shaker canister and filter paper in the treatment area for 24 hours after release to ensure all mites have exited, unless a small area is being treated, in which case the cap should be re-secured in order to store the balance of the mites for the next release. Do not store the mites in the shaker canister for more than 2 weeks. Hold at a very humid 60-70°F. It is best to store these canisters on their side (this provides more surface area for the mites within the confines of the unit).
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Iphiseius degenerans
Release these mites at sundown the day of receipt. To release, gently rotate the bottle to distribute the mites evenly within the carrier. Next, open the screw top in the crop area, and gently tap them out of the bottle evenly onto the foliage of the plants in the area to be treated. Concentrate the bulk of them at release points on or near the most heavily infested plants. Leave the bottle in the treatment area for 24 hours after release to ensure all mites have exited. Supplying these predators with certain plantings (flowering, pollen producing plants, or even small quantities of ground bee pollen), at or near the release site, may increase their egg laying activity. Pollen is a requirement of continued establishment if prey is absent. However, excessive pollen may impede their performance. Do not store the mites in the bottle for more than 8 hours. Hold at a moderately humid 50-60°F.
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Orius insidiosus
Release these true bugs at sundown the day of receipt. To release, gently rotate the bottle to distribute the predators evenly within the carrier. Next, open the bottle in the crop area and gently tap out the predators and their carrier directly onto the foliage of the infested plants, or evenly throughout the crop if the infestation is widespread. Some could fly out on their own. If they begin to exit too quickly or dispersal control is not manageable, re-secure the cap between release points. Concentrate the bulk of them at release points on or near the most heavily infested plants. For any that will not readily come out of the bottle, simply tuck it into the foliage of a plant, preferably one with a heavy pest population. Supplying these predators with certain plantings (flowering, pollen producing plants), at or near the release site, may increase their egg laying activity. These predators may bite. Do not store the true bug adults or nymphs in the bottle for more than 8 hours. Hold at a moderately humid 45-55°F (fridge best).
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