Aphid Predatory Midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza are small black colored and 3-4 mm long flies. These predatory midge flies are commercially available and considered as the excellent biological control agent for the organic control of over 60 species of aphids that cause a serious damage to many economically important crops including cucumbers, eggplants, radish and tomatoes grown in the greenhouses and outdoors. If released into high aphid infestations, A. aphidimyza larvae are capable of killing much more aphids than they will actually eat. This means they handle easily heavy population pressure of aphids. Since these midges are extremely adaptable, they can be successfully used in many environments such as tall street trees, orchards, interiors, etc. They are capable of searching their pest victims in very high places like 60 foot tall canopy of pecan trees.
- - Aphid Predatory Midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza are effective against following species of aphids
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- Cannabis aphid or hemp aphid or bhang aphid, Phorodon cannabis
- Glasshouse potato aphid, Aulacorthum solani
- Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae
- Pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum
- Potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae
- Alfalfa aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum
- Bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi
- California laurel aphid, Euthoracaphis umbellulariae
- Cereal aphid, Sitobion avenae
- Cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii
- Melon aphid, Aphis gossypii
- Potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae
- Bean aphid, Aphis fabae
- Tobacco aphid,Myzus nicotianae
- + How Aphidoletes aphidimyza are applied in the greenhouses or fields
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Aphidoletes aphidimyza are shipped as pupae (the last immature and inactive stage) in a vermiculite medium and the tubs they are normally shipped in serve well as emergence units.
- To control heavy infestations of aphids, these pupae can be released in the greenhouses, street trees, fields, orchards and gardens by placing opened containers under aphid infested plants.
- When package is arrived and you are not ready to release Aphidoletes aphidimyza in your garden, store packages in a cool place and avoid direct exposure to sunlight.
- Release these midges at the rate of 1-2 adults per square meter area.
- Under favorable environmental conditions and if there is enough food around, these predatory midges may recycle continuously and help to keep the aphid population under economic threshold level.
- + How aphid predatory midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza work
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Aphidoletes aphidimyza are shipped as pupae (the last immature and inactive stage) in a vermiculite medium and the tubs they are normally shipped in serve well as emergence units. To control heavy infestations of aphids, these pupae can be released in the greenhouses, street trees, fields, orchards and gardens. A single female of Aphidoletes aphidimyza lays up to 250 eggs amongst the aphids in the aphid colony. The larvae of this midge fly are predatory in nature. Immediately after hatching from eggs, larvae start killing aphids by injecting a toxin through their legs. Each larva of Aphidoletes aphidimyza can eat over 50 aphids per day. While feeding larvae develop through different developmental stages and become adult flies. The total life-span of these predatory midge flies is roughly 6 weeks. Under favorable environmental conditions and if there is enough food (aphids) around Aphidoletes aphidimyza can recycle continuously, keep feeding on aphids and help to keep the aphid population under economic threshold level throughout the season. The optimum temperatures and a relative humidity for their development and performance are between 64-77°F and 70%, respectively but these optimum conditions are not necessarily a prerequisite for their successful implementation. However, Aphidoletes aphidimyza can undergo diapause (a quiescent state, hibernation) when temperatures less than 40 °F for extended periods or the photoperiod is less than 12 hours. These predatory midges are known to adapt any environment but care should be taken before releasing these midge flies in the greenhouses and vegetable gardens as they are very sensitive to many pesticides, their pupal stage may be susceptible to beneficial nematodes and they can undergo diapause when temperatures go below 40°F for extended periods. Also presence of ants on the aphid infested plants will reduce the effectiveness of larvae of Aphidoletes aphidimyza, as ants are known to defend aphids from predators and parasites to protect their honeydew food.
- + Why you need predatory aphid midge Aphidoletes aphidimyza
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- they can reduce the crop damage by killing and eating over 60 different species of aphids, which are responsible for the crop damage
- they can kill all different stages of their aphid hosts
- they are able to actively search for their aphid hosts and kill them
- they can reproduce and continue their life cycle on aphids in your garden after first application
- they are commercially available and easy to apply in the greenhouses or fields
- + Why Aphidoletes aphidimyza are safer than traditional pesticides
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- they do not cause damage to plants
- they can be used and applied around children and pets
- they do not cause any harm to the personnel involved in their production and application
- food products are safe to handle and eat when they are treated with wasps
- they do not harm humans, animals and pollute the environment
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