Green and Brown Lacewings

• Eggs
  • Loose Eggs: Gently sprinkle onto infected areas. Misting plants before release will help eggs to stick. Eggs will take several days to hatch. Release as close to target pests as possible. 
  • Egg Cards:  Hang egg cards from foliage in the infected areas, eggs will take several days to hatch. Place cards in the foliage egg-side-down and out of direct sunlight.  Do not place egg cards on the soil surface, as slugs, snails or ants may eat them.
• Larvae 
  • Larvae in bottle: Gently sprinkle the material evenly over the target area. This is generally on foliage, but can also be on the soil for root aphids.  Larvae are mixed with rice hulls for easy distribution. 
  • Hex Cell: Larvae are separated to prevent cannabilism. Carefully pull back part of the covering and gently tap onto infected area. Continue until are larvae are dispersed. Leave empty hex cell near plants allowing any remaining larvae to escape. 
• Adults: Open the top and gently allow the adults to fly out of the container in the infected areas. After release, carefully cut or tear the container to distribute the pieces containing eggs onto the plants. Provide nectar, pollen or honeydew for the insects to stimulate egg laying. 

Predatory Mites

• Foliar Mites (cucumeris, swirskii, fallacis, andersoni, californicus, persimilis, Anystis, etc.) As bottles are unpacked, turn them onto their sides to allow mites to evenly disperse inside the containers. Sprinkle the product gently onto the foliage of the infected plants, concentrating on hot spots. Leave empty container near plants for 24 hours to allow all mites to exit.
• Soil Mites (Stratiolaelaps) As bottles are unpacked, turn them onto their sides to allow mites to evenly disperse inside the containers. Gently tap product onto the soil in target areas. Using a small teaspoon can help ensure equal portions. Also release onto dirt or gravel floors and around benches and weeds. Release the majority of the product in areas with the highest pest pressure. 
• Sachets on Hooks: Hand from foliage near pst infestation, preferably one sachet per plant. Use caution, especially in hanging basket applications, to ensure that sachets never touch the soil as the sachets can wick moisture, potentially drowning the beneficial mites. Place inside the plant canopy and DO NOT hang on the outside of pots. 
• Sachets on Sticks: Insert stick into growing media, avoiding exposure to direct sunlight if possible. Place the stick close to or touching the plants main stem to facilitate travel of predates up and into the plant canopy. Mites will use the connected canopy as a bridge to disperse throughout the crop. 

Beneficial Nematodes

Water is the carrier to deliver nematodes to the target pest. High volume, low-pressure sprayers work best, as well as a watering cans or conventional spray equipment.  Plug trays can also be dipped into a nematode solution. Remove all intake injectors, openings smaller than .5 mm and all filters less than 50 mesh or finer and do not exceed 200 psi. 

Do not mix nematodes with a fertilizer solution. Volume of water used depends on size of the container and the depth the target pest is in the substrate. Use room temperature water(65°-75° F) and keep the nematode stock tank stirred and/or aerated to provide oxygen and keep them suspended or they will drop to the bottom. 

Beneficial nematodes are available as two different products, on a sponge or in a tray.

• Sponges that are pre-inoculated with infective juveniles in quantities of 1 mil, 6 mil, and 24mil of either single species or blends. Generally, in a Greenhouse setting, apply beneficial nematodes at a rate of 1 million per 1,000 sq. ft. This brand has a completely unique application rate as the bacterial level is much higher because they are produced in vivo in waxworms.
• Trays that contain 50 million or 250 million. Release every 2-3 weeks at a rate of 50 mil/1100 ft2 or every 4-6 weeks at a rate of 50 mil/550 ft2. Use 30-50 gal/1000ft2. For applications onto soil or growing media.

For more detailed Nematode instructions, please review these tech sheets. 

Applying Sierra Biological Nematodes on Sponges

Nematode Application Rates for Small Growers

Beetles and Bugs

Orius: Release by gently shaking them onto plants or by opening the containers in the greenhouse and allowing them to naturally disperse. 

Dalotia: Gently rotate the tube to distribute the beetles within the carrier. Open the bottle and gently tap throughout the target area. Release at sundown for best results and avoid watering for several hours after application. Also release in wet areas on floors and under benches. 

Cryptolaemus: Release in early morning or late evening and do not wear light colored clothing as beetles are attracted to this and they will end up on you instead of your plants. Open containers and gently tap beetles onto infested areas. 

Parasitic Wasps

Aphidius: Open the container and slowly walk through the target area allowing wasps to fly out, gently tapping the opened vial. Release early morning or late afternoon for best results. Sprinkle remaining mummies that have not yet hatched onto plants, or leave bottle tucked into the crop until all have exited. Be careful the container is not near irrigation and does not fill with water as this will kill any remaining wasps. Remove yellow sticky cards prior to release for best results. It may take up to 7 days for all wasps to hatch. 

Aphidoletes: It is critical to keep the vermiculite or sand moist or the Aphidoletes will not emerge. Add a small amount of water if the media has dried out. Aphidoletes is sent as pupae (cocoons) in moist vermiculite or sand. Adults should begin to emerge within 1 week and all should emerge within 14 days of receipt. If adults do not emerge add a small amount of water to the media and keep the container closed to raise humidity. The predators may be released in either of two ways:

• Hold closed containers in a warm place at 72-77ºF (heat speeds up emergence) until many adults are seen flying in the container then place the opened container in a shaded spot near the aphid infestation. Turning off fans will allow these tiny fliers to more easily find their prey.
• For use in a heated greenhouse or landscape, cut one corner off of the plastic container so that there is a small opening approximately 3/8 inch. For product in a bottle, simply open bottle. Place the container or bottle in the release area out of direct sunlight, allowing Aphidoletes to fly out as they hatch.  

Aphytis: Release in early morning or at dusk. Leave the container open on its side among foliage or walk through infested areas gently waving the container for a more rapid release. In an orchard release on the shaded side of the tree, every fifth to sixth tree, staggering release points throughout the field at no more than 100 feet apart. 

Encarsia: Encarsia pupae are sold glued onto cards or as loose scales. For pupae on cards, separate the cards at the perforations. Be cautious not to touch the pupae on the cards as they are extremely delicate. Hang the cards in whitefly infested areas or on plants that are susceptible to whitefly. Attach in a shaded spot to the lower leaves as Encarsia tend to fly upward. Avoid wetting them while watering. Use in hanging baskets as well as among plants on benches. Leave the cards for 3 weeks to ensure emergence of all parasitoids and then remove cards from crop. Remove yellow sticky cards near Encarsia or they will become trapped. 

For any questions regarding quality control, please check these QC Guidelines courtesy of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, or call Sound Horticulture (360) 656-6680, we are here to help you!