Tip Top Bio-Control – Farmer Supply

Aphidoletes Aphidimyza - (Predator)

 

Temperature Range
68°– 81° Fahrenheit, 20% – 80% Relative Humidity

Adult
Tiny fly like midge; lays eggs among aphid colonies.

Larva
Orange midge larva kills aphids by biting at their knee joints and injecting a paralyzing toxin. They kill from 4 to 65 aphids, killing more than they eat in their 3 to 5 day larva stage, then drop to the soil, burrowing 1" into the soil and spin a cocoon.

Pupa
10 to 14 days.

Feeds on
Over 60 species of aphids.

Shipped
In pupal stage, in granular carrier.

Release Rates
From March through October is best. Reduce aphid populations with soap spray prior to release if population is high. Release midges every 7 to 14 days for 1 to 5 releases then once or twice a year. 1 per 10 sq. ft. for low infestations, 5 to 10 per 50 – 100 sq. ft. for high infestations. Orchards: 3 to 5 midges per tree in May for the summer and again in August to eliminate overwintering aphids.

Note: Do not use Beneficial Nematodes with Aphidoletes as they cycle in the soil. Requires a minimum of 14 hrs. light to reproduce. 100 watt light per 100 sq. ft. is sufficient. Will not breed during cool temperatures.