Control the whitefly in your greenhouse or conservatory using this tiny but brilliant parasitic wasp. (two introductions)
The Pest : Tiny white moth-like sap-sucking pests, usually in massive quantities, that fly up when disturbed. The young stage is small, waxy scale-like and greenish white, found beneath the leaves. Infested plants yellow and may distort, and sticky honey dew, often followed by black sooty mould are common symptoms.
The Solution : Encarsia formosa :A tiny parasitic wasp which parasitises the young (scale) stage of the whitefly.
For use only against glasshouse whitefly, and only in greenhouses, conservatories or on house plants, not outside.
The adult wasp parasitises the 2-3 week old whitefly scales, turning them black. A young beneficial wasp will then hatch out of the blackened scale and zoom around looking for more whitefly scales that it will then parasitise.
Whitefly are capable of laying up to 200 eggs in groups on the underside of the leaves, so numbers can build up quickly. Once these eggs hatch, the tiny larvae emerge to search out suitable feeding sites and lose the ability to move. This immobile “scale” stage is pale green, about 2mm long and lives under the lower leaves only. The life cycle consists of adult laying eggs, to larvae, to scale and finally to adult, this whole process can be completed in as little as 3 weeks in the summer. To control whitefly :-
- Introduce Encarsia as soon as the daytime temperature averages 10°C / 50°F and the whitefly are first spotted
N.B. Whitefly should not be confused with aphids, which shed their skin leaving them on the leaves. To tell the difference shake the plant, whitefly will fly off whereas aphid skins will remain stuck.
Control whitefly in your greenhouse / conservatory by introducing Encarsia Formosa AS SOON as the first whitefly appear and the temperatures are above 10°C / 50°F. Encarsia is a natural parasite of whitefly – it is a tiny insect with clear wings that seeks out whitefly scale and deposits an egg inside it. As the beneficial Encarsia develops INSIDE the whitefly scale, the whitefly is destroyed and turns black, before a new Encarsia emerges ready to repeat the cycle. Each Encarsia is capable of laying 300 eggs inside 300 whitefly scales in 30 days. It is safe for you, children, pets and wildlife. Food crops such as tomatoes can be harvested continually, where Encarsia is used.
The Encarsia is supplied in 5 x NEW easy to use Blister Packs containing 500 Encarsia, which you need to hang on the infested plants.
These controls are sent by 1st class post.
Simply separate the blister packs and hang them up before opening the flap on the back to allow the Encarsia to emerge For heavier infestations / larger greenhouses use MORE Encarsia introduced at 14 days intervals – this allows the Encarsia numbers to build up naturally resulting in better control. How much Encarsia is needed :-
- For a small greenhouse where the whitefly have just appeared – use 1 introduction of 500 x Encarsia in 5 x Blister Packs.
- For larger greenhouses or where the whitefly have had time to get established – use 2 or more introductions (5 x Blister Packs per introduction) at 14 day intervals – see Encarsia Larger Option
- For large greenhouses where plants are being moved in and out or where you have had a persistent whitefly problem in the past and you want to introduce Encarsia to keep whitefly at bay during the growing season – use a longer programme of introductions @ 14 day intervals or increase the quantity and get more blister packs per delivery – see Encarsia Larger Option
We offer 2 pack sizes,
**General Notes for Biocontrols such as Encarsia**
These controls are totally safe for use near wildlife, pets, humans and other animals. They provide a brilliant way to sort out common pests without having to resort to using chemicals!
They are inclined to stay where their food source or breeding location is, so no need to worry about them all flying or running away!
These great biocontrols all have a built-in ‘seek and find mechanism so will actively search out the pests you have introduced them to control.
If you have been using chemical pesticides in your greenhouse/conservatory/frame/house, you may need to allow time for toxic pesticide residues to wear off before you introduce these great gardeners’ allies !
NB :
*Soap-based or fatty acid based sprays will kill beneficial insects if sprayed on to them BUT once they have dried on the leaf surface they become harmless.
* Pyrethrum based insecticides will kill the beneficial insects if applied on to them AND last for about 3 days on the treated surfaces.
**Insecticides containing imidacloprid, thiacloprid (and other neonicotinoid treatments) are extremely persistent and damaging to a very wide range of creatures . They can kill beneficial insects if directly on to them or if the beneficial insect feeds on a pest which has fed on a treated plant!
