Have you read the introductory First Thing’s First?
Whitefly Control Agents
Delphastus cataliniae
Release these beetles at sundown the day of receipt. Very lightly mist the foliage of the plants to be treated just prior to release. To release, open the bottle in the crop and gently tap out the beetles directly onto the foliage of the infested plants, or evenly throughout the crop if the infestation is widespread. However, it is best to not release less than 10 beetles per release location. This will ensure proper mating; the beetles will auto-disperse. If the beetles begin to exit too quickly or dispersal control is not manageable, try removing the filter paper then re-securing the cap, then release the beetles through the lid’s opening. 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 jar, simply tuck the perching material inside the bottle into the foliage of a plant, preferably one with a heavy pest population. Certain plantings (flowering, pollen producing plants), at or near the release site, may increase their egg laying activity. Do not store the adult beetles in the jar for more than 12 hours. Hold at a humid 55-65°F.
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Encarsia formosa
Release these wasps immediately the day of receipt. To release, if on cards, separate the cards at the perforations, if still connected, by cutting them with scissors. If you tear them apart, try to do it gently so as not to loosen too many of the lightly secured pupae (the black specks on the cards). Take special care not to touch the pupae, they are extremely delicate. Securely hang the cards, once separated, from the middle to upper branches of the plants in the area to be treated. Placement next to whitefly populations is advisable if the pest population is localized. If it is not, hang the cards evenly throughout the area, or next to the preferred host material of the pest if used preventively. Hang the cards in such a way that they will be sheltered from the sun’s rays and from watering, mist, irrigation, etc. Leave the cards in place, undisturbed, for about 20 days to ensure thorough emergence. If supplied as loose pupae, sprinkle the vial’s contents into receptacles of some sort: Dixie-like cups, distribution boxes, etc. and hang or place those receptacles as you would the cards. Another option (the preferred one) is to sprinkle the loose pupae on the leaves of your plants if this method is suitable meaning if you will not loose too many pupae. You are encouraged to use a pepper shaker for this technique. Do not store the emerged adult wasps for more than 4 hours. Hold at a moderately humid 55-65°F. Do not attempt to cold-store the wasps’ pupae for more than 4 days. Hold at a slightly humid 40-45°F (fridge best).
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Eretmocerus eremicus
Release these wasps immediately the day of receipt. To release, if on cards, gently separate the blister-pack cards at the perforations. Securely hang the cards, once separated, from the middle to upper branches of the plants in the area to be treated. Placement next to whitefly populations is advisable if the pest population is localized. If it is not, hang the cards evenly throughout the area. Place them next to the preferred host material of the pest if used preventively. Hang the cards in such a way that they will be sheltered from the sun’s rays and from watering, mist, irrigation, etc. (Though water is less of a threat to these cards when compared to E. formosa as the blister protects the soon to emerge pupae.) Leave the cards in place, undisturbed, for about 20 days to ensure thorough emergence. If supplied as loose pupae, sprinkle the vial’s contents into receptacles of some sort: Dixie-like cups, distribution boxes, etc. and hang or place those receptacles as you would the cards. Another option (the preferred one) is to sprinkle the loose pupae on the leaves of your plants if this method is suitable meaning if you will not loose too many pupae. Do not store the emerged adults wasps for more than 4 hours. Hold at a moderately humid 55-65°F. Do not attempt to cold-store the wasps’ pupae for more than 2 days. Hold at a slightly humid 45-50°F (fridge best).
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