Biological Solutions

Ladybugs, or lady beetles (Hippodamia convergens) are the best-known garden predators available. Ladybugs will eat aphids, mites and other soft- bodied insects. Limited stock availability now.

The Green lacewing larvae is the most beneficial stage with the lacewings. They feed on soft-bodied insects like aphids, but will also feed on caterpillars and some beetles. The biggest benefit of lacewing larvae is how aggressive they are. They will eat anything they can catch, and they are always hungry. They’re also cost effective, especially the eggs. They have the ability to quickly knock down moderate levels of aphid infestations, as well as help control many other pests.
Green Lacewing eggs are oval and pale green. Just before the larvae hatch, eggs turn gray. The eggs are shipped in vials with food and a carrier such as rice hulls, bran or vermiculite.

There are 3 species of mixed predatory fly parasites in your order: Spalangia cameroni, Muscidifurax zaraptor and Muscidifurax raptorellus. Fly parasites search fly-breeding areas for fly pupae containing developing flies. Once inside, the eggs hatch inside the fly pupa and feed on the developing fly and after two to three weeks of feeding, an adult fly parasite emerges to repeat the cycle. Each female fly parasite can kill approximately 100 immature flies in her lifetime.

Garden Variety Pack Combination: two bags' of 1500 ladybugs, 1,000 green lacewing eggs $46.45
The Garden Deluxe Pack: Two bags of1,500 ladybugs, 1,000 green lacewing eggs and 10 mil. mixed nematodes for $59.85

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema feltiae. Three types of beneficial nematodes to eliminate over 200 different types of pest insects in your garden soil.

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora are the beneficial nematode of choice when your problems concern all types of grubs, Japanese beetle larvae and Japanese beetles. These nematodes boast a deep-moving active-hunting with cruising characteristic which make them superior to many other species for grub control and Japanese beetles.

The praying mantis is an ambush hunter: it sits very still, blending in with its surroundings and waiting patiently for an unwary insect to come near. Then it easily snatches its unsuspecting victim -- some much larger than itself. When it spots one, it takes the mantis only 50-70 milliseconds to strike out with its forelegs and snare its prey. The diet of the praying mantis includes all sorts of insects and spiders, and sometimes even frogs, lizards, or mice.

Encarsia formosa is used for whitefly control in greenhouses on tomatoes, strawberries and in floricultural and nursery plants. 3,000 EF 36.25, 7,500 EF $75.00, 15,000 EF $127.75

Amblyseius swirskii slow release 500 sachets of 250 swirskii per sachet. total of 125,000 swirskii.
The generalist predatory mite A. swirskii is widely used against whiteflies, thrips and is also very effective in controlling broad mites and russet mites. If you want to gradually apply predatory mites, the Swirski-Mite slow-release sachets are a better choice. These bags contain the predatory mites, food, and bran for protection. The mites reproduce in the bag and move from there into the crops. The slow release will last up to 4 weeks.

Amblyseius swirskii, a predatory mite that's not all that picky when it comes to its daily meal. It eats many species of small insects and mites, which is ideal when different types of pests occur simultaneously. Amblyseius swirskii is primarily known as a thrips predator that is ideal for warmer climates as it is native to the Mediterranean. It feeds not only on thrips, but also broad mites, russet mites, as well. If you want to gradually apply predatory mites, the Swirski-Mite slow-release sachets are a better choice. These bags contain the predatory mites, food, and bran for protection. The mites reproduce in the bag and move from there into the crops. The slow release will last up to 4 weeks.

These predatory mites are Natural and Organic way to Control Spider mites. Special Blend Mite Predator, normally consisting of an assortment of the following predatory mites; A.cucumeris, N. californicus, P. persimilis. and A. swirskii. Special Blend is best used in unknown environments/growing conditions. Our Special Blend takes the guess work out of which mite should be used in your Garden, Green House, or Grow Room.

The beneficial nematode Steinernema kraussei and provides a rapid curative control of black vine weevil. It has the added advantage of being cold-temperature tolerant. Will control black vine weevil larvae in soil temperatures down to 41°F.

one package of HB 50 mil. nematodes
one package of SC 50 mil. nematodes
Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora an evolved insect-killing nematodes that kills its hosts within a few days of infection. The Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis is considered a generalist parasite and has been effectively used to control a variety of pest insects.
Mix the two together and cover up to one acre. $78.50

Predator of two-spotted spider mite, European red mites, broad mites, cyclamen mites, and russet mites. Amblyseius andersoni is is a predatory mite that feeds on many types of mites. It is ideal for preventive protection of greenhouse or outdoor ornamentals, vegetables and fruit crops.

Amblyseius swirskii is a very effective generalist predatory mite used to suppress immature thrips, two-spotted spider mites, cyclamen mites, broad mites, and whiteflies in ornamental, fruit and garden crops.

The wasp genus Aphidius is a large group containing numerous species, all of which attack aphids and provide natural control of aphids in backyard gardens, commercial fields, and urban landscapes. They are generally used in greenhouses.
Aphidius colemani are small braconid wasps. Females lay eggs singly in aphid nymphs. The wasp larvae consume the aphids from inside. As the larvae mature and the aphids are killed, the aphids turn into mummies. After the larvae pupate, each adult wasp emerges through an exit hole cut in the mummy. In addition to killing aphids directly, mechanical disturbance of aphid colonies by the searching behavior of the adult wasps causes many aphids to fall off the plants and die.

Aphidius ervi attack many species of larger aphids such as the green peach aphid and brassica aphids.

A relatively large wasp (twice the size of Aphidius colemani) with a black, slender body with brown legs and long antennae. The female wasp injects an egg in the aphid with her ovipositor. Hatched larvae eat the aphid from the inside leading to the formation of a a golden-yellowish-brown mummy. Finally, a new adult parasitic wasp leaves the mummy through a round hole.

Mix biological control agent mix contains the hymenopterous parasites, Encarsia formosa and Eretmocerus eremicus. It controls the younger larvae of greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, and silverleaf/sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, by host feeding and the older larva by parasitism reproduction.

Steinernema Carpocapsae nematodes (SC) is most effective against flea larvae, termites, ants, and caterpillars in lawns, garden soil, and under trees where larvae pupate. S. carpocapsae tends to be most effective when applied against highly mobile surface-adapted insects. Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes use sit-and-wait strategy ambush to attack highly mobile insects.

Aphidius ervi attack many species of larger aphids such as the green peach aphid and brassica aphids. As brassica aphids are quite common in gardens, you are likely to see this natural enemy in your garden.
Mummies are 1mm in size and a light bronze color. When the adults emerge, they leave exit holes in the mummies.Larvae are not visible as they are living within the aphid.
Adults are tiny wasps, about 3mm long. They have dark wings and gold and black bodies. Adults are identified by the veins on their wing.

Three species of predatory fly parasites mixed in your order: Spalangia cameroni, Muscidifurax zaraptor and Muscidifurax raptorellus.

These small wasps parasitize leafminer larvae in field and greenhouse crops. The parasitic wasp lays its eggs in or next to leaf miner larvae of the second and third instar. Diglyphus isaea kills leaf-miner larva in the mine and lays an egg on it. The egg develops into a parasitic wasp inside the mine (but outside the leaf miner), using the dead larva as food. Host-feeding also takes place. The young parasite larvae hatch from these eggs, and will then feed on the body fluids of the larvae. Duration of development; egg-adult, at 68ºF (20ºC) ± 16 days.

Lacewings stay where you place the cards in your garden, and the larvae are voracious feeders on those pesky bugs. The larvae are voracious predators used to control a wide range of soft-bodied pest insects. Green Lacewings larvae eat aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, leafhopper nymphs, moth eggs, scale, thrips, and whiteflies. The best time to release is early morning or late afternoon. The cards can be stored at no lower than 50°F for up to 48 hours.

The eggs are on perforated hanging cards, hang the cards, from the hole in the card, near the underside of leaves in the target area.

C. montrouzieri is a voracious feeder of mealybugs in both the larval and adult stages - a single larva may consume up to 250 small mealybugs.