Aphidius colemani
Pack size: 1,000 pcs, vial 250 ml
Aphidius colemani is a parasitic wasp of the subfamily Aphidiinae that lays its eggs inside aphids and turns them into mummies. It controls the green peach aphid, potato aphid, tobacco aphid and melon (cotton) aphid on cucumber, aubergine, pepper, rose, gerbera, chrysanthemum, strawberry, raspberry, currant and grapevine. Provides long-lasting, chemical-free aphid control. 30 ml bottle (500 individuals). Produced by Bioproduction.
Aphidius colemani – parasitic wasp for biological aphid control
Pack size: 1,000 pcs, vial 250 ml
Aphidius colemani is a hymenopteran of the subfamily Aphidiinae, a specialised aphid parasitoid. The body is black with brown legs, about 2 mm long; the female has an elongated abdomen, the male a more rounded one. It effectively controls green peach, potato, tobacco and cotton aphids, also on roses and other flowers.
How it works
The female lays an egg inside the aphid. At first the larva does not kill its host – it feeds on the fat body – and after 6–7 days it kills the aphid and spins a cocoon inside it. The aphid turns into a golden-brown mummy from which the adult wasp emerges after about 4 days. The female lays about 100 eggs in her lifetime, adults live 2–3 weeks, and the female-to-male ratio is about 2:1. Full development takes 14 days at 21 °C and 10 days at 25 °C.
Crops
Cucumber, aubergine, pepper, rose, gerbera, chrysanthemum, strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, currant, grapevine and other crops.
Key advantages
- efficacy – reduces aphid populations and yield losses while cutting insecticide use,
- safe for people, animals and the environment,
- persistence – aphid control for several weeks or months,
- scalability and cost-effectiveness in the short and long term.
Application
Preventive method: planned introduction of the parasitoid during the spring aphid migration, conveniently in blisters spread evenly in places sheltered from the sun. Curative method: vials with parasitoids are used in aphid hotspots – after the first hotspot is found, 1–3 individuals/m² of the whole greenhouse area are released (60% in the hotspots, 40% around them) weekly until aphid parasitisation reaches 90%. In crisis situations compatible chemicals can be used. Our consultants help choose the protection strategy.
- Preventive rate: 0.25 wasp/m² once a month.
- Rate for controlling pest hotspots: 2 wasps/m² per week.
Packaging and storage
30 ml bottle with cleaned mummies – 500 Aphidius colemani. Keep away from sunlight at 6–10 °C, use within 18 hours of receipt.