Description

Dicyphus hesperus are shipped as 250 adults. The adults are slender (6mm), black and green with red eyes and can fly. Adult females lay 3 eggs per day, for a total of about 88 eggs over 20-30 days. Eggs are laid in the tissue of plant stems and leaf veins and are not easily seen. The eggs hatch in 2 weeks. Nymphs are green with red eyes. Development from egg to adult takes 5 weeks at 77°F and 8 weeks at 68°F.

Release Rate:

• Release Dicyphus as soon as whitefly are found, at a minimum rate of 1 bug/ 25 ft² of infested area; repeat in 2-3 weeks. We recommend dividing the bottle into 3 batches and releasing them together to establish colonies. One bottle treats approximately 6,250 sq ft.
• Dicyphus require large numbers of prey (+100) in order to reproduce, so releases should only be made in areas where pests have been detected.
• This predator obtains water from plant feeding and can survive for long periods without food but must have insect food to reproduce. Feeding damage to the plant or tomato fruit is superficial and not usually noticeable unless population levels exceed 100 Dicyphus/plant.
• The use of “bank” plants such as mullein (Verbascum thapsus ) and eggplant is useful for increasing Dicyphus numbers as well as monitoring for pests.

Monitoring Tips

• Adults and nymphs move quickly and hide in plant material when approached.
• On mature plants adults and nymphs can usually be located in the middle leaves

1000901$189.95


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