BeneficialWestern flower thrips

Thrips predatory mite for western flower thrips

Amblyseius cucumeris · predatory mite

Against western flower thrips

It kills only first-stage larvae, so it has to be in the crop before thrips build up — Cornell warns it is no quick knockdown for a heavy population. In a UMass trial on bedding plants, bulk releases gave lower thrips catches than sachets at all three sites, though at one the gap was small. On greenhouse cucumber, Messelink and colleagues found the Swirski mite gave significantly better thrips control. It needs humid air, and UConn reports it matches the Swirski mite in short winter days.

Rate50–100 /m² per release (Koppert); UC IPM: 10–50 mites per plant, weekly; or sachets

TimingFrom planting, before thrips are seen; replace sachets every 4–6 weeks

Temperature15–25 °C best (Koppert); UConn gives 75–85 °F and Cornell 25–35 °C; not effective above 30 °C (Koppert); humidity above 65–70%

macro · thrips predatory mite on western flower thrips

The pestWestern flower thripsFrankliniella occidentalisSilvered scars, black frass specks, flecked petalsFull pest profile →

Before you order

Sprinkled onto the leaves or hung in slow-release sachets from planting; it eats only the youngest thrips larvae, so it has to be in place before thrips build up. How it works, how to tell it has established and the supplier list are on the full Amblyseius cucumeris profile.

Release calculator

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Area and infestation level in; quantity, cost and a weekly schedule out. Open the calculator →

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Pesticide sensitivity

Check anything applied in the last month before releasing. Check a product →

Other controls for western flower thrips

Orius insidiosusPredatory bug · 1–2 /m² per release; up to 10 /m² in hot spots
Orius laevigatusPredatory bug · 0.5–1 /m² preventive once the crop flowers; 5–10 /m² in and around hot spots
Amblyseius swirskiiPredatory mite · 25 /m² preventive, 50 at first detection, 100–300 on hot spots (Cornell); sachets repeated after four weeks
Stratiolaelaps scimitusPredatory mite · 100–500 /m² of compost surface per release (Koppert); once at planting (UConn) or repeated once or twice (Koppert)
Metarhizium brunneum strain F52Microbial — insect-killing fungus · Label rate — granules 1.5–3 lb per cubic yard of potting mix; liquid drench 4–8 fl oz per 10 gal
Beauveria bassiana strain GHAMicrobial insecticide (fungus) · Label rate — 1–2 qt per 100 gal (BotaniGard ES / Mycotrol ES) or 1–2 lb (22WP)