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APHID PREDATOR: Aphidoletes aphidimyza, Excellent Preventative Control For Aphids

Product: Aphidoletes is a small midge (fly) that feeds on over 60 species of aphids. The adults are 2 -3mm (1/16") long and have distinctive long legs. Adult midges seek out aphid colonies by detecting the scent of honeydew. Females deposit 150-200 eggs on leaves adjacent to aphid colonies. Eggs are oval, 0.3x0.1mm in size, and shiny orange-red. The developing larvae are usually orange colored, but may also be brownish or greyish. Larval stages are maggots which crawl on the leaf surface in search of aphid prey. Only the larval stage is predaceous. It feeds by biting aphids in the legs and paralyzing them with a toxin before sucking out the aphid body fluids. Aphidoletes larvae may consume 3 - 50 aphids per day, but where aphid populations are high they will kill more aphids than they can consume. When fully grown the larvae are 3mm long, and can be easily seen because of their color. Larvae will flip onto the ground to spin a cocoon and to pupate. Development time is temperature and prey dependant. At 21oC (70oF), total generation time from egg to adult takes nearly 3.5 weeks. Aphidoletes are good fliers in low crops, one release point /ha is sufficient. They are capable of finding aphid clusters as small as one individual. Aphidoletes are sent as pupae (cocoons) in moist vermiculite. At 22oC (72oF), the adults will begin to emerge within 1 week. All should emerge within 14 days of receipt.

Target: Many different aphid species (over 60 species including Snapdragon and Foxglove aphids), in greenhouses, orchards, shade trees and garden situations.

Release: If the pupae have not yet begun to hatch, you may temporarily store these predators at 18 - 31oC (64 - 87oF) in a highly humid, shaded location until hatch begins (check twice daily). Allow up to 12 days to hatch. When the midges have hatched, allow complete emergence in container before releasing, releasing them at sundown (Aphidoletes are most active at night-time). To release the adult midges, cut the corner off the tray. Release away from circulation fans (Aphidoletes are easily damaged by fans) preferably downstream. CRITICAL!!! Always release away from known aphid “hot spots”. Start program with clean crop as soon as plants are present or before aphids arrive. Release weekly until crop is finished.

Rate: Hot Spot: First reduce aphid populations with a soap spray then release directly on Hot Spot at a rate of 10m2. Release Rates : Home garden-250 Aphidoletes, 1 - 2 times, 2 weeks apart. Low Crops: e.g.-Flowers, perennials, lettuce, herbs - 1000 /ha /week. Medium Crops: e.g. Cut roses, gerberas, etc. 2000 /ha/week. Dense or High Crops: e.g.-Sweet peppers, cucumbers, etc-3000 /ha/week. Trees: 2 - 5 midges per tree once in spring, again in late summer to eliminate over wintering aphids.

Temperature: Optimal conditions are 21 - 25oC (70 - 77oF) and a high relative humidity >70% is preferred. Diapause will occur if subjected to low temperatures and day lengths with <14 hours of light. Aphidoletes needs very little light to remain active (a 60 watt light bulb will cover a radius of 20m or 67ft), but they do require 14 hours of light/day. Diapause is triggered in the larva stage, so preventative releases are not affected by day length or light intensity.

Note: -Aphidoletes is capable of finding a safe pupation site in almost any environment including rock wool, leaf litter, vermiculite, cracked concrete - wherever a small amount of organic matter and moisture is present. -Have the ability to survive for over 24 hours completely submerged. -Aphidoletes cannot be introduced during fall and winter months unless there is supplemental lighting. -Do not use Beneficial Nematodes with Aphidoletes as they cycle in the soil! -Do not store the hatched midges in the container for more than 8 hours. Hold at a very humid 16 - 19oC (60 -65oF).

Phone: 905-382-2904; Email: [email protected] Please let NIC know within 24 hours upon receipt if there are any problems with your live insect order.

For further Information Contact: NATURAL INSECT CONTROL, 3737 Netherby Road, Stevensville, Ontario, L0S 1S0 905-382-2904; 905-382-4418 (Fax); [email protected] For further Information on all NIC Beneficial Insects go to www.naturalinsectcontrol.com

www.naturalinsectcontrol.com Aphid Controls: Ladybugs (Hippodamia convergens) -general predator will feed on many aphids species, does not feed well on melon/cotton aphids.

Lacewings (Chrysoperla spp.) -general predator and try our Lacewing on Strings for easy application.

Brown Lacewing (Micromus variegates)-Cool season predator (works at 40C)

Aphelinus abdominalis -Potato and Foxglove aphids. 2019 Aphidoletes aphidimyza -Green peach, melon/cotton, potato Crop and foxglove. Your best Preventative Aphid control

Recommendation Aphidius colemani -melon/cotton aphids.

Aphidius matricariae -Green peach, same melon/cotton aphids.

Aphidius ervi –Potato and foxglove aphids Aphids

This pest can come on quickly, scout your plants on a Beneficial Pests General Release regular basis (1 to 2 per week) and keep records. Aphids are Insect Rates drawn to plants that are high in nitrogen. Add your nitrogen Ladybugs Most Aphid 1000 Ladybugs in small amounts over a longer period of time as this can Species covers 50m2 (550 make the plants less like “aphid magnets”. You will find ft2) that some plants are more prone to certain pests, from your Lacewings Most Aphid 1000 eggs cover list keep an eye on Calibrachoa (we have other customers Species 18.5 to 46.5 m2 that find this is an aphid favorite and it needs to be treated (200 to 500 chemically). ft2)/week Brown Most Aphid 1/m2 (10 ft2) or Lacewing Species 100 per hotspot Know your Aphids Species: every 2 weeks. Green Peach Aphids: can be green, pink or red in color. Aphelinus Potato and 0.5-2/m2 (0.5- The cornicles (2 “tall pipes” that stick out the back of the abdominalis Foxglove aphids 2/10ft2) insect) are green and slightly swollen at tip. This is the most Aphidoletes Green peach, 250 Aphidoletes common species, watch for this one on peppers. aphidimyza melon/cotton, per 500m2 (5500 potato and ft2) Melon/Cotton Aphids: can be brown to dark green with foxglove aphids black cornicles. Watch for this on peppers and cucumbers. Aphidius melon/cotton 0.5 to 1 /m2. (10 This very common aphid species in greenhouses. colemani aphids ft2)/week Aphidius Green peach, 0.5 to 1/m2 (10 Potato Aphids: a long legged and spindle-shaped aphid matricariae same ft2)/week with black cornicles. These can be found on tomatoes and melon/cotton peppers. Not as common, but a few greenhouses are seeing aphids them. Aphidius ervi Potato and 0.5-1 Aphidius/m² foxglove aphids (10ft2)/week Foxglove Aphids: can be whitish green to green body with a dark green spot at base of cornicles. These can be seen on tomatoes, peppers and many other annual crops. Many thanks to Applied Bionomics for these recommendations.

Looking for Prevention? Aphid preventative program, use Aphidoletes aphidimyza. You should release 250 Aphidoletes per 5500 ft2/500m2 every week. If the aphid population begins to rise, we can introduce other beneficials depending on the aphid species.

Bug Bites: Tips on Aphid Control To improve the cool season performance of Aphidoletes, the addition of LED Christmas light (green range) will significantly increase the effectiveness. With these lights, Aphidoletes are able to control Green Peach aphids and then move on to other species like Foxglove.