Ships via Overnight methods Monday-Thursday only. See Shipping Info for details or call us at 1-800-827-2847. These predatory mites are available for pick-up in our Oro Valley store.
Effective control of two spotted spider mites! Release Phytoseiulus persimilis PLUS at first sign of mite infestation. Once leaf damage is serious, more than 4 mites per leaf, achieving control is more difficult. For heavy infestations, remove the most affected plants and use a knock-down spray (see Neem Oil). Wait 48 hours after application of a knockdown spray to release predatory mites.
P. persimilis PLUS are reared in an innovative way to include mobile mites (adults and juveniles) PLUS eggs in each bottle. Unlike traditional P. persimilis, P. persimilis PLUS arrives pale and changes to orange/red after predation on pest mites begin.
The various life stages provide both immediate control and ongoing treatment as the mites mature. Mobile P. persimilis feeds on egg, nymph and adult stages of pest mites upon dispersal. Apply in areas where pests are present. Eggs mature in about a week (at temps between 70-80 °F).
Optimum Temperature and Humidity: 68-90°F (20-27°C) and 60-90% Relative Humidity
The above conditions are optimal and P. persimilis can be successful outside of those ranges; however, reproduction, development and activity levels can all be reduced. Increase humidity by moistening soil or use a cool-mist vaporizer around plants in enclosed areas.
Release Rates: Some crops, including tomatoes & other highly resinous crops, require higher release rates.
| Environment | Release Rates |
| Tomatoes | Preventative: 1-3 P. persimilis per square foot. |
| Moderate Infestation/Speckling: 5+ per square foot. |
| Webbing/Outbreak: 10+ per square foot after using a knockdown spray and cleaning the growing area. |
| Greenhouse & Garden Crops | 2+ P. persimilis per square foot. Increase release quantity for moderate to severe infestations. |
| Outdoor Growers | 20,000-200,000 P. persimilis per acre depending on infestation level. |
| Please Note: Release rates vary depending upon crop, infestation level and season of the year. |
Light infestations can be controlled within 2-3 weeks. Repeat releases every 7-14 days until control is achieved. Call us at 1-800-827-2847 to set up a customized weekly or bi-weekly ship program.
Additional Information:
This Product Controls These Pests or Diseases: Spider Mites
P. persimilis is a fast-feeding spider mite predator and should not be used to control broad, cyclamen or russet mites. Release instructions for P. persimilis are found below. If you are a first time user of beneficial insects or mite predators, please call us at 1-800-827-2847 to walk through application instructions and best practices.
Release immediately for best results. It is helpful to release P. persimilis in late evening on the day you receive them. Before releasing, gently rotate the jar to distribute the mites evenly within the carrier. Next, open the jar in the crop and begin to tap the contents out of the jar as evenly as possible onto the plant foliage. Concentrate releases on or near heavily infested plants. In trees, sprinkle them into Dixie-like cups wedged into, or distribution boxes hung from, the branches. Leave the bottle in the treatment area for 24 hours after release to ensure all P. persimilis have exited.
Due to its high reproduction rate, P. persimilis can exhaust its food supply and die out. Because of this, P. persimilis should be applied as an active control, not as a preventative measure. Repeated releases are recommended until all spider mite infestations have P. persimilis present. Since they are unable to sustain themselves without a mite population to feed on, look to N. fallacis for preventative applications as they can feed on pollen and small arthropods in the absence of mites.
Environment: Outdoors, Crops, Nursery, Greenhouse, Grow Room, Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Pond & Environment, Interiorscapes, Container Plants
Storage: If not releasing immediately, keep in a cool dark place out of direct sunlight. Use within 18 hours of receipt.
Shipping Restrictions: - Ships via Overnight methods Monday - Thursday..
- Online orders can take up to 48 hours to process.
- For any questions about shipping restrictions, please call us at 1-800-827-2847.
Cannot Be Shipped To: HI,PR,VI,GU,AS,PW
Warning & Toxicities: Do not release P. persimilis in areas where A. cucumeris are being used. A. cucumeris feed on spider mite eggs, limiting the food supply for immature Persimilis. See our Quick Pest Reference Guide for alternative predators suitable to your pest situation.
Shelf Life: Use within 18 hours of receipt.
Life Cycle: The complete P. persimilis life cycle varies based on temperature with higher temperatures accelerating the process and cooler temperatures slowing it down. At 86°F, maturity is reached after 5 days, while maturity is reached in as many as 25 days at 59°F. The sex ratio for P. persimilis is 4:1 female to male with females laying 2-3 eggs per day.
Eggs hatch in 2-3 days, but newly hatched juveniles do not feed. Later immature stages and adults feed on all stages of mites with each predator consuming 5-30 prey per day.
