Product Description

AMBLYforce™ C is a predatory mite, Amblyseius cucumeris, used for the prevention, control, and management of thrips, with useful activity against several pest mites. This format ships as loose bulk mites in a 5-liter bag, dispensed with the provided scoop for fast coverage of larger plantings. Cucumeris was the first predatory mite observed to feed on thrips, and as a generalist it also feeds on pollen — so it can be introduced preventively before thrips pressure builds in greenhouses, indoor facilities, field and row crops, and orchards.

What it targets

Thrips:

Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis)
Flower or Eastern Thrips (F. tritici)
Onion Thrips (Thrips tabaci)
Greenhouse Thrips (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis)
Melon Thrips (Thrips palmi)

Mites:

Cyclamen Mite
Tomato Russet Mite (Aculops lycopersici)
Broad Mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus)

Crops it supports

Ornamentals, hemp/cannabis, field crops, row crops, and orchard crops — in greenhouses, indoor facilities, field and row crops, and orchards.

How Amblyseius cucumeris controls thrips

Cucumeris is a phytoseiid predatory mite and the first predatory mite observed to feed on thrips. Like most Amblyseius spp., it is a generalist: the nymphal and adult stages are predatory and feed on the first larval stage of thrips. Because it targets that early larval stage, pair it with a soil-dwelling biocontrol agent that attacks the thrips pupal stage for long-term control. Cucumeris also feeds on pollen, which lets it establish in the crop ahead of a thrips outbreak.

Release Rates

Classification	Release Information
Bulk Bag	5–10 per sq. ft., repeat weekly or bi-weekly as needed. Use the provided scoop.

Cannabis Alert: Release rate suggestions on these pages are usually not sufficient for cannabis growers. For cannabis release rates, contact us.

Release Instructions

Release timing: Release bulk mites in the early or late hours of the day of receipt. If that is not possible, avoid the hot, dry times of day.

Before release: Place the bag on a shelf horizontally until release so the mites disperse evenly through the carrier. When ready, hold the bag horizontally and gently rotate to distribute the mites.

Application: Open the bag at the seal and sprinkle the contents evenly onto the plant foliage or into Universal Release Boxes (URBs) using the dispensing scoop, or disperse with a spreader or leaf-blower. Concentrate the product at release points on or near the most heavily infested plants. Leave the open bag in the crop for 24 hours so all mites can exit.

Storage: Do not cold store predatory mites for more than 8 hours. Keep them in moderate humidity at 55–65°F until ready to release.

Monitoring: Check plants for decreasing populations of thrips larvae. Scouting for predatory mite adults can be difficult, so the most reliable method is to watch for reduced pest pressure after releases. Predatory mites are fast-moving, hide in the foliage, and ambush their prey, so they are rarely found in large numbers alongside the pest.

Advisories: Avoid direct sunlight during release, and avoid hot, dry conditions that stress the mites.

AMBLYforce™ C – thrips predator (5 liter bulk bag)