APHIDIUSforce™ E (250/500/1,000)

Product Description

APHIDIUSforce™ E is a biological aphid control built around Aphidius ervi, a parasitoid wasp that specializes in the larger pest aphids. It hunts down host aphids even at low density and turns each one into a bronze mummy, making it a strong preventative and curative tool in greenhouses, indoor facilities, fields, and gardens. Pair it with Aphidius colemani when both small and large aphids are present in the crop.

What it targets

Large aphid species:

• Potato Aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae)
• Foxglove Aphid (Aulacorthum solani)
• Cannabis Aphid (Phorodon cannabis)
• Pea Aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum)

Crops it supports

Ornamentals, hemp/cannabis, vegetable crops, soft fruits, and tree nurseries — in greenhouses, indoor facilities, fields, and gardens.

How Aphidius ervi controls aphids

Female wasps hunt for aphids by sensing the odor of infested plants and the aphid’s honeydew secretions. Once she finds aphids, the female touches them with her antennae to confirm they are an appropriate species, then uses her ovipositor to insert a single egg inside the host. When the egg hatches, the larva eats the aphid from the inside, killing it 7 to 10 days later. The larva then spins a cocoon and the aphid turns into a bronze-colored mummy. The wasp pupates for 7 to 10 days before emerging as an adult, chewing a round exit hole out of the back of the aphid. Each female can lay up to 300 eggs, most of them during the first four days of adulthood.

Release Rates

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: APHIDIUSforce™ E can be released preventatively. Once aphids are detected, increase the dosage rate in line with pest density.

Release method: Gently rotate the bottle horizontally to ensure even distribution. Sprinkle the contents on flat leaves or into release boxes and hang them in the plants/crops. Do not place mummies directly onto soil or substrate. Ensure the product contents remain dry and are not moved from the introduction site for a few days. For blister packs, open the tab on the back and hang it near the plants, out of direct sunlight.

Storage: Use immediately upon receipt. If that is not possible, the product can be briefly stored at 6–8°C / 43–46°F and RH > 85%. Always adhere to the use-by date.

Monitoring: Mummies can be observed on the leaves of the crop 10–14 days after the first application. A perfectly round hole at the back of the mummy indicates that an adult A. ervi has emerged. Control should be achieved once 80% of the aphids are parasitized. Check efficacy by watching for a reduction in the pest population, fewer hot spots, and healthy plant growth free of honeydew or sooty mold.

Advisories: Remove yellow sticky cards for the first few days after the wasps are released. Blue sticky cards are acceptable to keep the entire time. When scouting, look for the presence of hyperparasitoids, especially in the late summer months — they can hinder a biocontrol program by killing the Aphidius developing inside the aphids. Hyperparasitoids leave a jagged exit hole on the aphid mummy instead of the nearly perfectly round hole that Aphidius spp. produce.