AMBLYforce™ S (Sachets)
100 mini Sachets(250ea)/hook
$42.00
Sale price
$42.00
Regular price
Product Description
AMBLYforce™ S is the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii, used mainly to control whitefly, with some impact on spider mite populations. This format ships in slow-release breeder sachets: the mites reproduce inside each sachet and trickle out into the crop over several weeks, giving steady, hands-off whitefly and thrips control. Swirskii is a polyphagous predator that also feeds on pollen and thrives in warm crops — it stays active at high temperatures between 86°F and 95°F, which makes it a workhorse in greenhouses, indoor facilities, field and row crops, interiorscapes, and gardens.
What it targets
- Greenhouse Whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum)
- Tobacco Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci)
- Certain Thrips spp.
- Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)
- Tarsonemid Mites
Crops it supports
Vegetable crops, soft fruits, ornamental crops, and hemp/cannabis — in greenhouses, indoor facilities, field and row crops, interiorscapes, and gardens.
How Amblyseius swirskii controls whitefly and thrips
Swirskii is polyphagous: it eats thrips (the first and second larval instars of western flower thrips) and whitefly (the eggs and first larval instar of greenhouse and Bemisia whitefly). Used preventively, it can control whitefly before they produce honeydew. The predator’s population builds as pest pressure increases, and it can feed on pollen — or be supplementally fed in low- or non-pollinating crops. It adapts easily to high temperatures between 86°F and 95°F.
Release Rates
| Classification | Release Information |
|---|---|
| Slow-Release Sachets | One sachet every 6 ft. of crop row, monthly as needed |
Cannabis Alert: Release rate suggestions on these pages are usually not sufficient for cannabis growers. For cannabis release rates, contact us.
Release Instructions
Sachets on a stick: Use sachets on a stick for plants in propagation or those too small to support a hook. For trays or liners, put one sachet on a stick in the middle of each one (you can often use one sachet for every other tray/liner if they are touching). For pots and baskets, place the sachet in the center next to the plant so the plant grows around it. Don’t let the bottom of the sachet touch the soil, since it can wick moisture.
Sachets on a hook: For larger plants, hang a sachet on a hook on the plant itself, close to the stem. Don’t lay sachets flat on the soil, where they tend to grow mold underneath, especially with top-watering. Very tall or wide plants may need more than one sachet for adequate control.
How the sachets work: Each sachet is filled with predatory and feeder mites that allow a slow, constant release over an extended period. Sachets last up to 5 weeks, and the week number is printed on the back. If a sachet is less than five weeks old, simply leave it in the plant — sachets are water-resistant and the mites reproduce inside and exit through a tiny hole. Sachets older than five weeks from the current week should be replaced (or left in the crop if removal is difficult).
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. Apply sachets as soon as possible. Do not store sachets in a refrigerator, air-conditioned room, or cooler — these conditions dry them out and ruin them. If storage is unavoidable, hold sachets around 60°F, keep humidity high, and open the box so carbon dioxide does not build up and kill the mites.
Monitoring: Check plants for decreasing populations of thrips larvae and whitefly. 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: If used alongside Phytoseiulus persimilis, use caution. In a greenhouse with mixed mites and whiteflies, clean up honeydew deposits and excessive webbing before release. Try to maintain microclimate humidity around 70%, supplementing with misting if conditions get too dry.
Meet the Beneficial Mite
AMBLYforce™ S is Amblyseius swirskii, a predatory mite in the family Phytoseiidae. Adults run 0.5 to 1 mm long, pear-shaped, and light beige to milky white — small enough that you will rarely pick one out without a hand lens. It looks much like Amblyseius cucumeris, but with a smaller body. Swirskii is a generalist, moving between whitefly eggs and first-instar larvae, thrips larvae, spider mite eggs, tarsonemid mites, and pollen. That flexibility is what lets a population hold in the crop between pest flare-ups instead of dying out with its prey.
Life cycle
Swirskii passes through one larval and two nymphal instars before the final molt to adult. Juvenile stages are usually complete within 10 days of emergence, so a sachet hung early is producing fresh predators well before pest pressure peaks.
| Stage | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Egg | About 0.15 mm, murky white to beige, laid individually on leaf hairs or along the midrib; larvae emerge after 2 to 3 days |
| Larva | Nearly transparent, small, and six-legged — this stage does not take prey |
| Nymph (two instars) | Darker than the larva and already adult-like, with eight fully formed legs but a smaller overall body; both instars are predatory |
| Adult | 0.5 to 1 mm, pear-shaped, light beige to milky white; a female lays up to 38 eggs over her lifetime |
Diet drives how fast it develops
Development from egg to adult is influenced mainly by diet: swirskii feeding on live prey develops faster than swirskii feeding on pollen. Pollen is what carries a population through the quiet stretches — it is not a substitute for prey, which is why low- and non-pollinating crops benefit from supplemental feeding.
Why swirskii suits a slow-release sachet
Because a female keeps laying across her adult life and the juveniles mature in roughly ten days, a breeder sachet can run several overlapping generations inside the packet. That is what produces a steady trickle of predators into the crop rather than the single pulse of a bulk release — and it is why sachet placement, not sachet count alone, decides how well the crop ends up covered.
Disclosures
Live product
Beneficial Insectary strives to guarantee the live delivery of the freshest organisms to our customers. We offer replacements or credits for any compromised shipments to customers who report issues or concerns within 24 hours. These issues or concerns must be relayed before releasing any organisms suspected of having viability issues. Please do not discard the product — you may be asked to return the shipment for further analysis.
Establishment of beneficials in crop settings
Many variables can affect biological control agent (BCA) and pest populations in the crops we work with — pesticide applications, watering practices, improper storage, and cultural, physical, or mechanical controls among them. Some beneficial organisms need a steady pest presence as a food source to build their population; others need alternate food such as pollen or nectar; still others have specific photoperiod requirements. Because of these variables, we cannot guarantee the short- or long-term establishment of the BCAs we sell once the organisms have been released. We do not offer refunds, discounts, or other credits on products that have already been released. Please refer to our live-product disclosure above.