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biological pest control |
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APHIDS
(greenfly & blackfly)
Description:
Aphids are small soft bodied insects, which range in colour
from yellow-green to dark-green, purple, brown and black dependant
on species and the time of year, their bodies are pear shaped.
Biological Control of Aphids.
Aphids can be controlled biologically in greenhouses or conservatories by using their natural enemies Aphidius or Aphidoletes or a combination of both.
A Ladybird, Lacewing, Garden Predators Box can help to encourage beneficial insects to stay in your garden to help control Aphids outside.
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MEALYBUGS
Description:
Mealybugs are small, soft-bodied insects which have sucking
mouthparts. The females are oval in shape and can be up to
5mm long.
They are white or whitish-pink in colour and are generally
covered in a white waxy material. They have filaments around
the edge of their bodies and tails.
The most common species found in glasshouses are the citrus
mealybug, the vine mealybug (which has a pair of short tail
filaments) and the long-tailed mealybug
Some species produce "waxy wool" in which to lay
their eggs.
The males, if produced by the species, are delicate winged
insects.
Biological Mealybug Control
Cryptolaemus Description:
Cryptolaemus is a black or dark brown ladybird with an orange head and tail, it is about 4mm in length and originally from Australia.
It's larvae are white and look rather like very large mealybugs, up to 1cm in length, with a waxy covering, they are more mobile than mealybug.
Leptopmastix Description:
Leptomastix are tiny yellow to black wasps, about 3mm long. They are parasites of the citrus and vine mealybug species.
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RED
SPIDER MITE (two-spotted mite)
Description:
Small yellow/olive mites which have dark patches on either
side of the body, red spider mite are less than 1mm long.
Also known as "two-spotted mite" they can be found
in large numbers on the underside of leaves.
In bad infestations they can produce fine webs.
As day lengths reduce in the autumn, they become deep red
in colour.
Biological Red Spider Mite Control
Phytoseiulus Description:
Phytoseiulus persimilis is a predatory mite capable of eating large numbers of red spider mites, it moves amongst the plants to find its prey.
It is slightly larger than the red spider mite. With a pear shaped shiny red body, it has long legs and is a quick mover. Young stages are oval and very pale pink.
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SCALE
INSECTS (Soft Scale).
Description:
There are two distinct groups of scale insects - soft scale
and hard scale.
The most commonly found soft scales are Coccus hesperidum
- the adults are 3-5mm long, green to brown in colour,
oval- shaped and appear slightly flattened (see picture left),
and Saisettia coffeae - the adults are 5mm or longer in length,
deep brown in colour and dome-shaped.
Hard scales have an armoured body, rather like a ladybird
and do not produce honeydew. The biological control for these
is not at present produced on a commercial basis in the UK
, Defenders are therefore unable to offer a control for hard
scale.
Biological Scale Insect Control
Metaphycus Description:
Metaphycus helvolus is a small parasitic wasp about 2mm in length. The female is yellow in colour and parasitises the young stages of soft scale when they have settled on the plant. It is quite active walking quickly over the leaf surface. Metaphycus is pictured left parasitising a scale.
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SCIARID
FLIES (fungus gnats).
Description:
The young are small, 4-6mm long, white larvae (maggots)
with black heads (see picture on the left), these can be found
in the top few millimetres of soil or compost.
Adult scairids are 3-4mm long, black, midge like flies that
can be seen jumping or hovering over the soil surface.
They are likely to be found in the greenhouse or around houseplants
where compost is moist and warm, and where algae may have
developed on the soil surface.
Biological Control of Sciarid Fly
Sciarid flies can be controlled biologically inside by using their natural enemy, the predatory mite Hypoaspis miles.
Information
provided by www.defenders.co.uk
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