Product Description

Diglyphus isaea is a parasitic wasp that hunts down leafminer larvae and stops them before they damage the crop. Adult females seek out leafminer larvae inside the leaf mines and parasitize them, breaking the pest’s life cycle and preventing new outbreaks. It thrives in warm conditions, which makes it especially effective in summer and warmer regions, and it works well in greenhouses, gardens, and field crops as part of an IPM program.

What it targets

Leafminers (Liriomyza spp.), including the serpentine leafminer and other agromyzid leafminers

How Diglyphus isaea controls leafminers

Females locate leafminer larvae as they feed inside the leaf and “sting” them with the ovipositor, injecting a venom that paralyzes the larva so it stops feeding right away. The wasp then lays an egg beside the host, and the developing Diglyphus larva feeds on the paralyzed leafminer before pupating. Because females also host-feed — killing leafminer larvae outright for nutrition — they kill more pests than they parasitize, which speeds up control in warm conditions.

Release Rates

Classification	Release Information
Standard	0.25 to 0.5 per 10 sq. ft. Make 2 introductions, one week apart.

Release Instructions

Release method: Hold the bottle horizontally and carefully remove the lid. Release the parasites by gently tapping the opened bottle while walking through the crop, then leave the open bottle upright in the infested area for a few hours so any remaining wasps can escape.

Timing: In hot, sunny weather make introductions early in the day or in the late afternoon / early evening.

Storage: Do not cold store the adults for more than 18 hours. Hold in darkness at a moderately humid 55–60°F until ready to release.