Orius Insidiosus ORIUSforce™ – Thrips Predator - Minute Pirate Bug
Bottle of 500 in Vermiculite
$32.20
Sale price
$32.20
Regular price
Skip to product information
Orius Insidiosus ORIUSforce™ – Thrips Predator - Minute Pirate Bug
$32.20
Sale price
$32.20
Regular price
SKU: OI5
Order by Thursday at 11AM PST to receive the following week.
Product Description
ORIUSforce™ is the minute pirate bug Orius insidiosus, a fast, aggressive predator best known for hunting thrips. Both the adults and nymphs feed actively, and while Orius works hardest against thrips, it also takes spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, and other soft-bodied pests — making it a strong partner alongside predatory mites in an IPM program. Use it in vegetable, fruit, and ornamental crops, hemp/cannabis, and tree and shrub nurseries.
What it targets
- Thrips
- Spider mites and other mite species
- Aphids
- Moth eggs
- Many other soft-bodied pests
Crops it supports
Vegetable crops, fruit crops, ornamental crops, hemp/cannabis, and tree & shrub nurseries — in greenhouses, indoor facilities, fields, gardens, and orchards.
How Orius insidiosus controls pests
Adult Orius eat all mobile thrips stages (larvae and adults), as well as spider mites, aphids, and whiteflies, while the nymphs mainly eat thrips larvae. Both adults and nymphs can also survive on pollen, and can be supplementally fed with NUTRIforce™ to help them establish in the crop before pest pressure builds.
Release Rates
| Classification | Release Information |
|---|---|
| With existing pest population | 0.5 to 1 per 10 sq. ft. |
Orius can also be sustained on banker plants, with purple flash ornamental peppers and/or Alyssum. Ask a Beneficial Insectary IPM specialist for details about this system.
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 Orius at sundown the day of receipt.
Release method: Gently rotate the bottle to distribute the predators evenly within the carrier, then open it in the crop and gently tap the predators and their carrier onto the foliage of infested plants, or evenly throughout the crop if the infestation is widespread. Some will fly out on their own; if they exit too quickly to control dispersal, re-secure the cap between release points. Concentrate the bulk at release points on or near the most heavily infested plants, and tuck the bottle into the foliage — ideally on a plant with heavy pest pressure — for any that won’t readily come out.
Storage: Do not store the adults or nymphs in the bottle for more than 8 hours. Hold at a moderate humidity between 50–60°F.
Monitoring: The clearest sign they are working is a drop in pests after release. Adults can sometimes be found in the crop with diligent scouting, and finding Orius on sticky cards indicates a healthy population.
Advisories: The nymphs will enter diapause if the day length is below 12 hours — supplemental lighting can be used to keep them active in short-day conditions. Even with a short day length and no supplemental lighting, Orius can still treat thrips hot spots — but if they lay eggs, the resulting nymphs will diapause in that situation, so no establishment will occur. Flowering plants with pollen help sustain their populations. Orius may bite, but the bite is not medically significant and will not cause any lasting harm.
Use in combination: Please do not use Orius on their own to control any pest species. In combination with other appropriate biocontrol agents, they are very effective at helping to reduce many pest populations.
Life Cycle
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Egg | Eggs are deposited in plant tissues. They are tiny — about 0.4 mm |
| Nymphal stages | Nymphs pass through five stages before maturing. In stage one the nymphs are colorless; through each nymphal stage as they mature they darken, going from yellow to brown |
| Adult | Adults are black, with a characteristic white patch on their backs and conspicuously red eyes. Adult females can grow up to 3 mm in length. Lifespan: 3–4 weeks |
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 our customers that report any issues or concerns within 24 hours. These issues or concerns must be relayed before releasing any organisms that are suspected of having viability issues. Please do not discard the product. You may be requested to return the shipment for further analysis.
Establishment of BCAs in crop settings: Many variables can negatively or positively impact BCA and pest populations in the various crops we work with — pesticide applications, watering practices, improper storage methods, and cultural, physical, or mechanical controls among them. Some beneficial organisms require a steady pest presence as a food source to build their population. Others may require alternate food sources, such as pollen or nectar. Others still have specific photoperiod requirements for success. Due to these variables, we cannot guarantee the long- or short-term establishment of the BCAs we sell after the release of the organisms. We will not offer refunds, discounts, or other credits on products that have already been released. Please adhere to our live-product disclosure above.