Dicyphus predatory bug for greenhouse whitefly
Greenhouse whitefly is the prey Arbico lists first, and a female eats about 24 young nymphs a day. It builds slowly: in earlier trials, whitefly and predator went through at least two generations before whitefly numbers fell. So release it early, while whitefly is low, give it mullein banker plants and moth eggs, and use it alongside Encarsia formosa. With many bugs and little prey it will feed on the crop.
Before you order
The native North American whitefly predator for greenhouse tomato, and the US counterpart of the European Macrolophus. It builds slowly, feeds on the plant as well as on prey, and in trials helped but was not enough on its own. How it works, how to tell it has established and the supplier list are on the full Dicyphus hesperus 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
- Amblyseius swirskiiPredatory mite · 25–100 /m² per release (UF/IFAS range), or sachets
- 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
- Beauveria bassiana strain GHAMicrobial insecticide (fungus) · Label rate — ½–1 qt per 100 gal (BotaniGard ES / Mycotrol ES) or ½–1 lb (22WP)