Swirski mite for greenhouse whitefly
The mite takes whitefly eggs and the first two larval stages, so older scales and adults are left; Encarsia formosa lays its eggs in the third and fourth instars (UConn). On tomato it is not used — Cornell calls it likely ineffective because of the glandular hairs on the leaves — so a parasitoid such as Encarsia has to carry whitefly control. It is most used in cucumber, pepper and aubergine, where it can also take thrips in the same crop.
Before you order
Sprinkled onto the leaves or hung in slow-release sachets in warm crops, where it feeds on pollen as well as prey and can build up ahead of the pest. How it works, how to tell it has established and the supplier list are on the full Amblyseius swirskii profile.
How many do I need?
Area and infestation level in; quantity, cost and a weekly schedule out. Open the calculator →
Other controls for greenhouse whitefly
- Encarsia formosaWhitefly parasitoid · 1–10 /m² per release, weekly until control is achieved
- Eretmocerus eremicusWhitefly parasitoid · 1–10 /m² per release, weekly
- Delphastus catalinaePredatory ladybird · 10 per infested plant or 100 per hot spot, weekly for 3–4 weeks
- Big-eyed bugsWild predator · wild, attract it
- Dicyphus hesperusPredatory bug · 500 per acre (Arbico); a Canadian trial released 1.25 adults per plant, three weeks after the whitefly
- Beauveria bassiana strain GHAMicrobial insecticide (fungus) · Label rate — ½–1 qt per 100 gal (BotaniGard ES / Mycotrol ES) or ½–1 lb (22WP)