The engagement against aphids is in full swing again . If cultivator had to take one control agent they would not require to be without , most would select Aphidoletes - System . While display excellent searching demeanor , this gall midge play a key role minimizes hotspots from developing .
About 3 mm in size and orange in colouring , Aphidoletes larvae can each eat up to 100 aphids a mean solar day . At home in a range of crop , this midge is n’t fussy – devour most aphid metal money . Over the years , these key attributes have made Aphidoletes aphidimyza a worthful player in Biobest ’s biological dominance programs for this widespread and ambitious pest .
Great at searchingAphidoletes - System is as effective as it is efficacious . The grownup female person are alive around dusk and at dark . After mating , they go search for aphid hotspot . Sap wet-nurse blighter , aphids excrete a pasty honeydew melon . Strongly attracted by its sense of smell , female Aphidoletes quickly and accurately home in on aphid hotspots and situate their egg .
From these small reddish ‘ bean plant - shaped ’ eggs , gall midge larva emerges within about three days . These hungry marauder right away go in search of prey .
turgid appetiteThe voracious Aphidoletes larvae sting aphid , injecting a paralyzing toxicant immobilise them . Having consumed sufficient aphids , the larvae fall from the foliage to pupate in the upper layer of the territory . In rare face , they have been shown to pupate on the leaf . Sensitive to dry out out , the pupa in general want grunge and slightly damp condition .
big businessman in numbersApart from the females ’ fantabulous search behavior and the larvae ’s various appetites , the Aphidoletes - System declare oneself other advantages ; these midge do not cause leaf legal injury by forming galls and are not sensitive to hyperparasitisation .
Biobest ’s Aphidoletes - System is usable in units containing 1,000 , 2,000 and 10,000 pupae . After opening , mint contain 1,000 pupae should be station upright between the plant ( in the shade and out of unmediated sunlight ) and in and around pestis hotspots . The 2,000 and 10,000 units postulate to be distributed in fixed introduction point . In practice , buckets are often used , with or without moist swordplay sand in the base .
AdviceFor in effect distribution to optimize effectiveness , it is important to have sufficient introduction points throughout the crop . After release , growers are apprise not to burn sulphur – as this disrupts the gall midge ’s searching behaviour .
