TARGET PESTS:Most species of Whitefly pests. ABOUT ENCARSIA FORMOSA:Encarsia formosa is a tiny parasitic wasp known for its effective control of whitefly populations. Encarsia formosa measures <1 millimeter in length and has a distinctive appearance, with a black head and thorax, and a bright yellow abdomen. As an adult, females actively seek out whiteflies, specifically targeting the immature stages such as eggs and pupae. The female wasp deposits her eggs inside the whitefly's body where it develops into larvae and feeds on the whitefly, turning the whitefly black or brown in color. INTRODUCTION RATES:Hang on lower leaves out of direct sunlight. Avoid getting wet.Introduce indoors or outdoors. It is best to release Encarsia formosa in temperatures over 68°F and relative humidity of 50-70%. When daytime highs are regularly below 64°F Encarsia activity decreases making them less effective.LIGHT INFESTATION: 2-5 wasps per sq. ft.HEAVY INFESTATION: 10+ wasps per sq. ft.It's important to note that these introduction rates serve as general guidelines and may vary based on the specific pest species, the crop or plant being treated, and level of infestation. Proper monitoring of the infestation and the subsequent effectiveness of the released beneficial insect population is crucial for determining the success of the biological control strategy. RELEASE LOCATIONS:Indoors and outdoors on a wide variety of plants. PRO TIP:To achieve a comprehensive approach in controlling Whiteflies, it is recommended to combine the use of Encarsia formosa with other beneficial predators such as Delphastus catalinae and Eretmocerus eremicus. STORAGE:For best results, introduce immediately. If storage is necessary, store at 40°-50°F for no longer than 14 days. LIFE CYCLE:The life cycle of Encarsia formosa lasts approximately 28 days at a temperature of around 70°F. Typically, Encarsia formosa consists mostly of females, and each female can lay up to 10 eggs per day. The eggs are deposited individually, with one egg per whitefly host. After being laid, the eggs develop inside the whitefly scale for about 10 days. Following this stage, they enter the pupal stage, which lasts for another 10 days. Finally, the adult Encarsia formosa wasps emerge from the pupae. These adult wasps have a lifespan of up to 30 days.It's important to note that these time-frames are approximate and can be influenced by factors such as temperature, humidity, and the availability of prey. Monitoring the development and activity of beneficial insect populations, along with environmental conditions, can help determine the progress and effectiveness of their role in pest control efforts.
LIVE DELIVERY GUARANTEEDPackage contains 20,000 live Phytoseiulus persimilis predatory mites. ABOUT PHYTOSEIULUS PERSIMILIS: Adults are tiny, fast moving, red, pear-shaped mites with noticeably long legs. Unlike its natural enemy, the Two-Spotted Spider Mites, Persimilis does not spin webbing. Phytoseiulus persimilis feed on all stages of Two-Spotted Spider Mites. TARGET PESTS: Feeds on Two-Spotted Spider Mites. PREDATORY MITES IN BOTTLES vs SLOW RELEASE SACHETS: BOTTLED MITES: Best choice for an active infestation. Our adult predatory mites are a natural tool to help cure an active infestation of mites. These tiny predators feed on all life stages of unwanted pests in your garden and help to balance the ecosystem. Our beneficial insects work quickly to reduce light to moderate infestations. With heavier infestations, increase in quantity and frequency may be required. SLOW RELEASE SACHETS: Don’t fight pests, prevent them. Avoiding garden pests is far easier than dealing with an outbreak of bad bugs – be proactive by preventing the problem. Our sachets are filled with a blend of predatory mites in a variety of life stages, providing a slow release of pest control into your garden. When it comes to having a healthy garden, preventative care is key. Release monthly as part of your IPM program. HOW TO RELEASE BOTTLED PREDATORY MITES: 1. Release mites in the morning, evening, or when grow lights are off. 2. Locate plants with spider mite infestation and knock down the webbing. 3. Lightly mist leaves before releasing mites. 4. Sprinkle contents on the infested leaves, or use NaturesGoodGuys Hanging Release Boxes (sold separately). 5. After release, set vial and lid in crotch of plant to allow any remaining predatory mites to be released. RELEASE RATES: BOTTLE: Light Infestation: 0.5-1 mite per square foot. Heavy Infestation: 2-4 mites per square foot. Release weekly or bi-weekly as needed. Temperature Range: 43° – 90° F. Humidity: 60% – 90%. SACHET: Hang one sachet per 3-6 square foot, every 2-4 weeks. PRO TIPS: Use NaturesGoodGuys Hanging Release Boxes to release your predatory mites without making a mess! Release boxes help you concentrate predatory mites on infested areas.Predatory mites are susceptible to pesticides. Avoid spraying plants one week before or after releasing predators. Some materials may be toxic to predators for up to four weeks. STORAGE: For best results, release within 24 hours of receipt. If storage is necessary, store at 42° – 48° F. for no longer than 48 hours.
Guaranteed Live! Our red worms have been specially raised and groomed to outperform other red worms! One of our secrets is Nature’s Good Guys Soldier Worm Chow. This food additive helps promote fast growth and encourages reproduction. As Red Worms travel through soil they are consuming and creating air passages which help aerate and amend the soil! Red Worms will consume any kind of biodegradable matter. Such as: fruits, veggies, coffee grounds, eggshell and more! As Red Worms consume organic matter they produce Worm Castings. Red Worms eat their weight in organic matter every 24 hours. Release Rates: 2-3 worms per sq. ft. Food Redworms will consume any kind of biodegradable matter except materials containing excess oil or chemicals. Suggested – fruits, vegetables, coffee grounds, tea bags, eggshells, and any vegetable – matter. Not Suggested – meat, bones, salt, vinegar, cooking oil or dairy products. A 12-14 gallon worm bin will hold about 6 lbs. of organic waste per week but we recommend starting slowly. To encourage decomposition, you may want to finely chop the material before adding it to the bin. Window Screen Harvesting Technique When it is nearly time to harvest, set a window screen (cut 6″ wider than the bin all around) over the composting mass, then place fresh bedding on top of the screen and feed on top of this second layer. The worms will squeeze through as food runs out below and the food above attracts them. After a few months, take hold of the screen edges and lift it out. Harvesting the castings that are below the screen. Dump the newer composting material from on top of the screen into the bottom of the empty bin and replace the screen. INDOOR COMPOSTING Container Almost any container that keeps worms in and offers drainage and sufficient oxygen can be used. The basic worm box size is one foot high, two feet deep, three feet wide and has air holes in the bottom. However, a variety of containers will do. Use Vermi World Worm Bin. See details to the right. Bedding We recommend bedding made from shredded newspapers and compost or good garden soil. Tear regular newsprint only (no colored pages) in strips approximately 1.5” wide. The bedding should be moistened to the “firm ball” stage. When squeezed, water droplets (not streams) will fall and when released it will form a ball. You will need to either put a tight fitting vented lid on your bin or keep a light on over to prevent them from escaping. It is normal to have worms crawling up the sides and getting under the lid of a plastic bin. They like to be in the condensation that forms in these bins. *Note: Never use water from water softening systems as the salt will kill the worms OUTDOOR COMPOSTING Redworms can also be used in an outdoor compost pile. If possible, release the worms in the morning. This will give them time to settle into their new environment before dark and help prevent crawling. Simply dig a shallow hole in the pile, spread the worms along with the bedding they came with into the hole and cover. The worms will naturally seek out an area of the pile that is the right temperature. During cold months, they will migrate into the center where the temperature is generally warmer and in warm months they will migrate to the outside.
