Tip
Top Bio-Control – Greenhouse Grower's Supply
Eretmocerus
Californicus and Eretmocerus SP. - (Parasite)
Temperature
range
75° Fahrenheit. Eretmocerus
SP: 75°– 100° Fahrenheit.
Adult
Small wasp with golden yellow thorax.
Eggs
E. californicus lays eggs inside whitefly
scale. Sp. lays under whitefly nymphs. (Sp. is
specific to silverleaf, sweet potato and poinsettia
whitefly.)
Larva
Hatch inside whitefly host.
Pupa
Inside whitefly scale turning it to a
golden color over a 2 week period.
Feeds On
Whitefly scale (larva). Best for sweet potato
whitefly. Sp. penetrates and consumes whitefly larva.
Shipped
Shaker bottles - pupa and adults.
Release Rates
4 – 6 per 1 sq. ft. or 2 – 3
per plant at 1 to 2 week intervals until 80% – 90%
of the scales are parasitized. Sp. for
Tomatoes: 10 per 100 sq. ft. every week
for prevention. At first sign: 10 – 15
per 100 sq. ft. every week until under control.
Note: Sp. Is especially good for tomatoes,
cucumbers, peppers and eggplant. Not good for Greenhouse
Whiteflies!
Release Points for Eretmocerus
Hint: Whiteflies are difficult
to control if allowed to build up before introducing
Beneficials. Hang yellow sticky traps to monitor. Introduce
Encarsia formosa when whiteflies are expected or first
seen on yellow sticky traps. Predators work well together
with parasites.