Female wasps hunt for aphids by sensing infested plants’ odor and the aphid’s honeydew secretions. Upon discovering aphids, the female wasp will touch them with its antennae to make sure they are an appropriate species. The female wasp will use an ovipositor to insert an egg inside the aphid if they are. Once the egg hatches, the larva begins to eat the aphid from the inside, eventually resulting in death 7 to 10 days later.

Once the larva kills the aphid, it will spin a cocoon around itself, and the aphid will turn into a bronze-colored mummy. The wasp will pupate for 7 to 10 days before emerging as an adult. The adult wasp chews a round exit hole out of the back of the aphid. Each female wasp can lay up to 300 eggs, most of them during the first four days of adulthood.

Use immediately upon receipt.

This product can be briefly stored at 6-8° C / 43-46° F and RH> 85% if not possible. Always adhere to the use-by-date.

RELEASE TIMING

APHIDIUSforce™ M can be released preventatively. Once aphids are detected, increase the dosage rate in line with pest density.

RELEASE METHOD

Open the container near the crop to be treated and release any adult wasps that have already emerged. If necessary, gently tap the bottle to encourage them to fly away. Then sprinkle the remaining content on the flat leaves or into release boxes and hang in the plants/crops. Do Not place mummies directly onto soil or substrate. Ensure the product contents remain dry and are not moved from the introduction site for a few days.

Mummies can be observed on leaves of the crop 10-14 days after the first application. A perfectly round hole at the back of the mummy indicates that an adult of A. matricariae has emerged. Control should be achieved once 80% of the aphids are parasitized. The efficacy can be checked by observing a reduction in the pest population, reduced hotspots, and healthy plant growth, free of honeydew or sooty mold.

Remove yellow sticky cards for the first few days after the wasps are released. Blue sticky cards are acceptable to keep the entire time. When scouting, look for the presence of hyperparasitoids, especially in the late summer months. They can hinder a biocontrol program because they kill the Aphidius developing inside the aphids. Hyperparasitoids will result in a jagged exit hole on the aphid mummy instead of the nearly perfectly round hole that Aphidius spp. produce.

Live-Product: Beneficial Insectary strives to guarantee the live delivery of the freshest organisms to our customers. We offer replacements or credits for any compromised shipments to our customers that report any issues or concerns within 24 hours. These issues or concerns must be relayed before releasing any organisms that are suspected of having viability issues. Please do not discard the product. You may be requested to return the shipment for further analysis.

Establishment of BCAs in Crop Settings: Many variables can negatively or positively impact BCA and pest populations in various crops we work with (pesticide applications, watering practices, improper storage methods, cultural/physical/mechanical controls, etc.). Some beneficial organisms require a steady pest presence as a food source to build their population. Others may require alternate food sources, such as pollen or nectar as an example. While other BCAs have specific photoperiod requirements for success. Due to these variables, we cannot guarantee the long- or short-term establishment of the BCAs we sell after the release of the organism(s). We will not offer refunds, discounts, or other credits on products that have already been released. Please adhere to our “Live-Product” disclosure.