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Aphidoletes aphidimyza are native predators of aphids and are used for aphid control in commercial greenhouses, conservatories, orchards, zoos, botanical gardens, rose gardens and home gardens. The adult midges resemble mosquitos and are active in the evening, often found on spider webs. Adult females lay their eggs near aphid colonies and the resulting orange larvae immediately begin feeding on aphids, whitefly and psyllids.
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Aphidoletes arrive as pupae and the adults will usually hatch within a week. Warmer temperatures speed up emergence. Until they emerge, store the trays in the office at room temperature or in a greenhouse out of direct sunlight. Do not open the trays immediately as they are shipped with enough moisture to ensure viability. If they appear dry after a few days, and no midges have emerged, add a few drops of water to raise humidity and gently shake the trays to help activate them. The first midges to appear are the males. Wait another 12 hours for the females to emerge and then release the flying midges into the target area by opening the trays and placing them off the floor and protected from water or direct sunlight.
Note! Turn off circulation fans in the evening upon release, otherwise control will fail as Aphidoletes are weak fliers. Do not store in refrigerator as this will drastically reduce their searching ability.
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The complete life cycle of this natural enemy takes 24 days at 70°F, but this varies depending on temperature and availability of prey. Females lay shiny orange oval eggs on leaves beside aphid colonies. At optimal temperature the eggs will hatch in 2-3 days and the orange, legless larvae crawl along the leaf in search of aphids. They feed by biting aphids and paralyzing them with a toxin before sucking out the aphid body fluids. The larvae live for 7-10 days and can kill up to 50 aphids per day, often killing many more aphids than they consume. After their larval stage Aphidoletes drop to the ground and pupate in the soil. Adults emerge in 2-3 weeks. Outdoors the last generation of Aphidoloetes in the fall over-winters in the soil inside a cocoon. They are very hardy and can survive throughout North America. Both people and pet friendly. Note! Aphidoletes are most active between March to September and may enter diapause with cooler temperatures and shortening day lengths. Supplemental lighting can help with this. Contact Sound Horticulture for more details.
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Release 1-3 midges per 10 square ft of crop canopy or 100-1,000 in hot spots. Aphidoletes should be released in the spring before the first sign of aphids and then once aphids are detected. Additional releases should be made 2-3 times at 7 to 10 day intervals to establish the predator.
For larger areas release 1,000 to 4,000/acre repeated 1-3 times 1 to 2 weeks apart or until established. Aphidoletes can be used along with the parasitoid Aphidius. Organic pest control without harmful pesticides. Shipped fresh and quality guaranteed.
