Target pest: Many species of aphids.
Aphidoletes. Aphidimyza: Pests Attacked over 60 species of aphids.
Description:
Aphidoletes larvae are voracious native predators of over 60 species of aphids. Larvae are orange, legless maggots, up to 3 mm (1/16 inch) long.
Adults are small, delicate midges (flies) 2-3 mm (1/16 inch) long, with long legs. The males have long antennae, which are covered with hairs. The females have shorter and thicker antennas. The eggs are very small and orange colored. Adults are rarely seen, as they are mostly active in the evening.
Use in Biological Control:
Aphidoletes are used to control aphids indoors in commercial greenhouses and interior plants as well as outdoors in orchards, shade trees, roses and home gardens. Optimum conditions are 21°-25°C (70°-77°F) and high relative humidity (over 70%), particularly for the pupal stage, which must not dry out.
If aphids are present in outdoor plants in late summer, a release of Aphidoletes at this time helps reduce the overwintering aphid population, while establishing an overwintering predator population that will be active early the following spring.
Habitat (Crops)
Cole crops, potatoes, greenhouses, backyard gardens, ornamentals, orchards, berries. In the greenhouse A. aphidimyza has become very important for aphid control on long term vegetable crops. Although very few field introductions have been reported, studies indicate there is the potential for aphid control in many outdoor crops. A. aphidimyza has been found on cabbage, apples, blueberries, and ornamental bushes, and is recognized as being an important naturally occurring control agent of aphids
Relative Effectiveness
Adult midges are very efficient at locating aphid colonies. In one study, the Aphidoletes located the one infested plant out of 75. One larva needs a minimum of 7 aphids in order to complete the life cycle, but it may eat as many as 80. In addition, larvae kill more aphids than they consume. Mass released aphid midges have adequately controlled aphids in small backyard garden trials.
The onset of shorter day length toward the end of summer can induce diapause. This can be averted in the greenhouse by nocturnal use of 100 W incandescent light bulbs spaced 22 m apart when the canopy is open, with closer spacing when the canopy is dense.
Unit of packaging
Aphidoletes aphidimyza (gall-midge)
Pack size: 100 ml bottle
Contains: black pupae mixed with vermiculite, from which 2,000 gall-midges hatch
Also bulk package available in tray from which 10,000 gall-midges hatch (500 ml)
- For home gardens apply 2,000 Aphidoletes 1 time, 3 weeks apart.
- For greenhouses apply 2 Aphidoletes per 1-6 plants.
- For orchards use 5-10 Aphidoletes per tree.
Target
A wide range of aphid species. APHIDEND is recommended especially when aphid colonies are present.
