View Our Product List (PDF Format)
Get Adobe Acrobat
Commercial
1.Cryptolaemus montrouzieri
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri belongs to the ladybug family. It is a dark brown to black predatory beetle with an orange-red head and thorax that feeds on mealybug. Adult and larvae Cryptolaemus eat every stage of many mealybug species. Cryptolaemus is very effective against high infestations. Cryptolaemus is used to control mealybug in zoos, conservatories, interior landscapes and outdoors in national forests, citrus orchards, wine and table grapes.
2. Feltiella acarisuga
Feltiella acarisuga is a predatory gall midge for control of spidermites. Female Feltiella deposit their eggs in spider mite hot spots. Immediately after hatching larvae start devouring spider mites. After introduction, Feltiella will be concentrated in large mite colonies, but will distribute to smaller colonies as it’s population increases. Adult Feltiella are excellent flyers and will easily spread across the whole crop. It is recommended to introduce Feltiella in combination with predatory mites. This beneficial insect is used indoors in glasshouse flower and vegetable crops and outdoors in berry crops.
3. Hypoaspis miles
Hypoaspis miles is a small predatory mite that inhabits the top layer of soil and feeds on sciarid larvae. Hypoaspis is most effective when used preventively (low fungus gnat population) but can also be used curatively either alone or in combination with the nematode Steinernema feltiae. Furthermore, Hypoaspis can also feed on springtails, thrips pupae, millipedes and root aphids. It can survive up to seven weeks without food.
4. Cucumeris – Amblyseius (=Neoseiulus) 
cucumeris is a small predatory mite of thrips. It is effective in glasshouse vegetables (sweet pepper, cucumber, eggplant) and in ornamentals (chrysanthemum, rose, gerbera, potted plants). Since A. cucumeris feeds on pollen, it can be used preventively in pollen bearing crops. Amblyseius cucumeris is available as breeder material ( mixed with a food source to ensure long-term A. cucumeris reproduction and release in the crop) for preventative application in non-pollen bearing crops or before flowering in pollen bearing crops, and as sprinkler material for curative application.
5. Persimilis
Phytoseiulus persimilis is a very efficient predatory mite of the two-spotted spider mite. It has a voracious appetite, and can completely wipe out a spider mite colony. When plants touch each other, Persimilis can spread relatively easily throughout a crop though nymphs tend to stay in the same place. Persimilis activity is slowed down by high temperature or low humidity.
6. Podisus
Podisus maculiventris, commonly known as the spined soldier bug, are sold as eggs or nymphs (juveniles). They feed on many different types of caterpillars and beetle grubs.
7. Banker Plants
Aphid Banker Plants provide an open rearing system as a means to introduce aphid parasites or predators before aphids appear in the crop. Banker Plants consist of barley plants infested with cereal aphids, which attack only monocotyledonous plants and will not transfer to dicotyledonous plants. These aphids serve as hosts for parasitic wasps (e.g. Aphidius spp.) or as food for predators (e.g. Aphidoletes). When using the Banker-System, there is a continuous production of beneficial insects. Early introductions of the Banker-System can prevent an aphid infestation.
8. Ladybugs
Hippodamia convergens is a predatory beetle (ladybug) of aphids. Larval and adult stages of Hippodamia convergens eat many aphid species. This beetle is well suited to be used against heavy aphid infestations in field or protected ornamental, fruit and vegetable crops.
Pests
1. Aphids – Aphids can become a real plague in a very short period of time. Aphids extract nutrients from the plant, which affects plant growth. The secreted honeydew fouls leaves and fruit, which then become unmarketable. Aphids can also transmit viruses and inject toxic substances into the plant that cause malformations. The most widespread species are: green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), cotton (melon) aphid (Aphis gossypii), potato aphid (Macrosiphum euphorbiae) and glasshouse potato (foxglove) aphid (Aulacorthum solani).
2. Whitefly – In greenhouse horticulture, the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) is a very common pest. The tobacco (silverleaf) whitefly (Bemisia tabaci or B.argentifolii) is increasingly becoming a serious problem in many crops. This species is more difficult to control than the common greenhouse whitefly. Whitefly larvae ingest large amounts of plant sap that they need for their development. Excess plant sap is secreted as honeydew, which fouls leaves and fruit and makes them unmarketable. Moulds that often grow on the honeydew can interfere with plant photosynthesis and respiration, Moreover, whitefly can transmit several viruses.
3. Spider mite – Spider mites are not insects but arachnids (they have eight legs). The most common spider mite in vegetable, ornamental and small fruit crops is the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). Spider mites suck plant sap for food; feeding damage shows as small yellow spots on the leaf upper surface. This reduces photosynthetic area, weakens the plant and decreases yield. Also, webs made by mites reduce the aesthetic value of ornamentals. Other mites commonly found on crops are the carmine spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus), broad mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus) and cyclamen mite (Tarsonemus pallidus).
4. Thrips – The most common thrips species are the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and the onion thrips (Thrips tabaci). Thrips damage plants by piercing plant cells and emptying their contents. Damage is visible as silver-grey spots with dark dots (thrips excrement). Thrips can also attack flowers, which may result in flower or fruit deformities. Thrips are also vectors of viruses such as the tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV).
5. Fungus Gnats – Adults are small dark flies with long, slender antennae and long legs. Damage to plants is caused by the long and translucent white larva, which has a distinctive black head. Larvae feed on dead material in the growing media and also on living material such as roots and stalk tissue. Damaged plant tissues are then susceptible to plant diseases such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Botrytis, Fusarium, and Verticillium.
Contact us for more information:
The Bug Factory Ltd.
1636 E. Island Highway
Nanoose Bay, British Columbia
V9P 9A5
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (250) 468-7912
Fax: (250) 468-9484
