CHRYSOforce™ R – lacewing larvae in hexcell unit (400)

Product Description

CHRYSOforce™ R is the green lacewing, Chrysoperla rufilabris — a voracious generalist whose larvae eat just about any soft-bodied pest they can catch, and they are always hungry. This format ships as pre-fed larvae in a 6×8 hex cell rearing frame: each larva develops in its own cell, separated so they arrive healthy and ready to release. Use it across ornamentals, hemp/cannabis, vegetables, soft fruits, and tree nurseries, in greenhouses, indoor facilities, fields, gardens, and orchards. Note: green lacewing does not control root aphids.

What it targets

The larvae feed on:

• Many aphid species
• Many mealybug species
• Spider mites
• Many thrips species
• Whiteflies (eggs/juveniles)
• Eggs of many pest species

Crops it supports

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

How the green lacewing controls pests

The larvae seek out prey and suck the life out of them, consuming up to 50 aphids a day, and they are capable of attacking large prey. Females can lay 400-plus eggs near pest hot spots. Green lacewing stays active in low light and cooler temperatures, which makes it a flexible predator across many crops.

Release Rates

The rates shown are for larvae, so use them as listed for this product.

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: The pre-fed larvae are still developing inside individual cells of the rearing frame. Release them the same day received (no later than the following day) unless your packing slip says otherwise. Hold the frame up to the light and you can see the larvae in their cells.

Release method: Peel back one side of the organdy material an inch at a time and “knock” or tap the larvae out onto the target area, then peel off the organdy on the other side. You can lay the frame next to a plant so any remaining larvae crawl out onto the crop.

Storage: Do not cold store the larvae. Release them the same day they are received.

Monitoring: Larvae are small, fast, and hard to find in the crop — the best time to look is in the evening. The clearest sign the lacewings are working is a drop in pests a few days after release.

Advisories: If ants are present, control them before releasing — ants feed on aphid honeydew and will protect aphids from predators. Adult lacewings need pollen, nectar, or other suitable food to breed; Wheast™ can be given to adults as a supplement.

Meet the Beneficial Insect

The green lacewing, Chrysoperla rufilabris, is a generalist predator — but only for part of its life. This is the single most useful thing to understand about it: the larva is the predator, and the adult is not. Everything about how you buy, time, and support this insect follows from that split.

The larva does the hunting

Lacewing larvae are small, fast, and relentless. They hunt down soft-bodied prey and drain them, taking up to 50 aphids in a single day, and they are willing to attack prey considerably larger than themselves. They stay active in low light and at cooler temperatures than many predators tolerate, which is what makes them useful across such a wide range of crops and seasons. A larva passes through three instars over roughly two to three weeks — and that entire window is the working life you are buying.

Life cycle

The adult has a different job

An adult green lacewing eats no pests at all. Its contribution is reproductive: a female lays more than 400 eggs, placed near pest hot spots so the next generation of larvae hatches where the food is. That is why feeding adults matters — without pollen, nectar, or another suitable food source they will not breed, and a supplement such as Wheast™ can be provided to keep them laying. If you are counting on lacewings to establish rather than act once, the adults need something to eat.

Why this format ships larvae, and why the timing is tight

Buying larvae means buying the hunting stage directly — no waiting for eggs to hatch, and predators feeding on the day of release. The trade-off is the clock. These larvae are pre-fed and already developing inside their cells, so their two-to-three-week predatory window has begun. Held too long, they spend part of it in the frame instead of in your crop and then pupate into adults that eat nothing. That is the reason for the same-day release rule, and the reason cold storage is not an option here the way it is for some other beneficials.

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.