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 1-liter shaker tube, ready to tap out evenly across the canopy or into release boxes. 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
Shaker Tube	5–10 per sq. ft., repeat weekly or bi-weekly 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

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 tubes on a shelf horizontally until release so the mites disperse evenly. When ready, hold the tube horizontally and gently rotate to distribute the mites, then unscrew the top, remove the filter paper, and replace the lid.

Application: Gently tap the mites out of the tube evenly onto the foliage in the area to be treated. A whirlybird-type spreader or a modified leaf-blower speeds up the process and widens the release area, and Universal Release Boxes (URBs) work well too — hang them on the plant and scoop a small amount into each. Concentrate the product at release points on or near the most heavily infested plants. Leave the tube, cap removed, in the treatment area 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 (20,000/ 50,000/ 250,000 in liter tube)