These parasitoids work by laying eggs in the eggs of many Lepidopteran spp. (moths and butterflies). These tiny wasps can parasitize over 150 species of moth eggs. Because these parasitoids are supplied on perforated cards into squares, even distribution is a sure thing.

Do not store the emerged adult wasps for more than 4 hours. Do not cold store the wasps’ pupae for more than three days. Hold at a slight humidity of 45-50%RH.

To obtain an even distribution in the target area, cut each card into 30 hanging tags. Flip the card over (egg side down) and cut with scissors along the perforated lines; do not tear.

If emergence has already begun, place the hanging tags as evenly throughout the target area. Emergence can be seen as tiny brown dots moving around (a magnifying glass may be helpful). Distribute the hanging tags in the evening or the early morning hours.

Try to place them in a location shaded from the sun and protected from the rain.

Ant control is an essential part of any biological pest control program. They often attack the beneficial insects while they are still developing. For this reason, it is best to distribute the hanging tags after the emergence of the Trichogramma has started.

Seeing TRICHOforce™ Mix at work usually is out of the question. They’re just too small and quick. If you can find the moth eggs, you may be able to determine if they have exit holes from the wasps. The only other indicator is fewer caterpillars upon their hatch and minor damage noticed shortly afterward.

Timing is critical to ensure host eggs are available for parasitism.

The one downfall of these parasitoids is ants; they love Trichogramma eggs and will rob them from the squares they are shipped on. Therefore, creativity is sometimes necessary:

• Stapling the squares to leaves.
• Attaching them to a tree trunk.
• Surrounding the small area with a sticky barrier product may help ward off the ants.

Another option is to pre-emerge the eggs by allowing the cards to remain in the bags they’re shipped in and wait for emergence, checking the bags at least once daily. When the first sign of emerging parasitoids is evident, hang the cards and shake out the wasps in the bags. This will reduce the amount of time the eggs on the cards are exposed and threatened by marauding ants.

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.