Catalog of Beneficials

 

Mealybug, Scale, and Whitefly Control

Overview on Mealybug Controls

    Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

   

Overview on Scale Biocontrol

    Aphytis melinus

    Lindorus lopanthae

      (also known as Rhyzobius lopanthae)

Overview on Whitefly Biocontrols

   Delphastus catalinae

   Encarsia formosa

   Eretmocerus californicus

Also see Lacewing a general predator.

For Bulletins on how to use each of these insects in a biocontrol program see Bulletins.

 

Mealybug Biocontrols Remove ants that interfere with predators and parasites, even in low numbers. A knockdown application of neem oil or a Beauveria product can helpful in some situations, but must be done before releasing biocontrol agents.

 

Several releases of Cryptolaemus or green lacewing may be needed, usually at least two releases two weeks apart. "Crypts" are suggested for high pest levels and in warm, humid conditions, and lacewing for more varied conditions. Lindorus eat mealybug, but need scale to reproduce. Use one or more of these predators and then consider parasitic wasps. The only one currently available is Anagyrus vladimiri (formerly A. pseudococci), particularly for the vine mealybug (Planococcus ficus) and citrus mealybug (Planococcus citri). A month lead time is required with a deposit.

 

For indoor releases where there are skylights or windows, "Crypts" should be released after dark to stay on the plants, and lacewing larvae are more reliable. The next generation of adult lacewings, however, tend to migrate out of indoor culture.

 

BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ CODE QUANTITY PRICE
 
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

 

Mealybug Destroyer

predatory beetle

prefers 60-90° F, 70-80% RH

 

 mealybug, scale, aphid, adult & larvae both feed on all stages of mealybug, larva looks like a giant mealybug,

do not refrigerate, hold at room temp. or 50° F

 5/plant

2-5/sq yd

1K-2K/acre

1-2 X, inoc

CR100

 

100/bag

 1 bag 55.00
2+ bags 48.00
5+ bags 38.00

CR250

 

250/bag

 1 bag 98.00
2+ bags 89.00
5+ bags 80.00

CR500

 

500/bag

 1 bag 169.00
2+ bags 158.00
5+ bags 150.00

 

SCALE BIOCONTROLS – Lindorus lopanthae and green lacewing are predators that can tear the covers off of hard scale and will eat immature soft scale (eggs and crawlers) if not too sticky. Aphytis melinus is a parasitoid wasp that attacks certain armored scale, but may not attack all species of hard scale. Use of appropriate species in sufficient numbers in regular releases can suppress or control infestations in two to three months. Then, one to three releases per year should maintain control.

BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ CODE QUANTITY PRICE
Aphytis melinus

Golden Chalcid

parasitic wasp

parsitizes 2nd, 3rd instar female, 2nd, pre pupal male, host feeds other stages

 Armored scale, California red, citrus red, oleander, San Jose, ivy, walnut, Dytyospermum, and citrus yellow scale 5K-10K/acre

1-2/sq ft GH

5-10/plant

1 wk I, 3 X

 AP5 5,000/cup 34.00
2+ cups 25.00
5+ cups 19.00
AP10 10,000/cup 48.00
2+ cups 39.00
5+ cups 32.00
AP25 25,000/cup 79.00
2+ cups 70.50
Lindorus lopanthae

( also known as Rhyzobius lopanthae)

Scale Destroyer

predatory beetle

 hard scale

soft scale until honey-

dew forms, will eat some mealybug, other small insects,

prefers 60-77° F, 20-90% RH

larvae, adult both predators

 3-5/plant

20-40/tree

1-2 K/acre

3 wk I, 2 X

3-6/10 sq ft GH

 LIN25 25/vial 36.00
2+ vials 27.00
5+ vials 12.00
LIN50 50/vial 48.00
2+ vials 39.00
5+ vials 30.00
LIN100 100/vial 64.00
2+ vials 59.00
5+ vials 54.00
LIN250 250/vial 115.00
2+ vials 105.00

 

Whitefly Biocontrols-Encarsia, Eretmocerus and Delphastus - Encarsia formosa is best against Greenhouse whitefly. Eretmocerus species are best against the Bemesia genus (silverleaf or sweet potato whitefly) and woolly, citrus and bayberry whitefly, but it will also parasitize GHWF. Encarsia and Eretmocerus only attack the second instar whitefly nymphs. The period of potential parasitism is only 4 to 5 days. Proactive weekly or biweekly releases of Encarsia or Eretmocerus are needed to be there when they can parasitize second instar nymphs. Timing is everything using these wasps.

 

General predators include green lacewing, Orius, and Delphastus beetles. Delphastus catalinae are effective specialists on whitefly eggs and immature stages, controlling "hot spots" of high-density whitefly populations. They are not typically used as a preventive, low-density control.

 

Ants fight off natural enemies protecting access to whitefly honeydew secretions. After managing ants, plan inoculative releases. A release turns a generation in 3 weeks yielding 100 times more beetles, a good reason to start early! Unlike lacewing, Delphastus work well with whitefly parasites. They do not eat already parasitized whitefly. Act early to prevent high numbers. Consider a PheroDes pheromone program for GHWF from HortiPro, applying Beauveria fungal pathogens, soap, such as Dr. Bronners, or neem before introducing biocontrols.

BENEFICIAL TARGET PEST RATE/FREQ CODE QUANTITY PRICE
Delphastus catalinae

(=D. pusillus)

Whitefly Predator

predatory beetle

no diapause active >54º F (12º C)

 whitefly - for high WF density

 1-2/100 sq ft

1 X inoc

 DE100 100/bottle 52.00
2+ bottles 47.00
DE1K 1,000/bottle 185.00
2+ bottles 177.00
Encarsia formosa

Greenhouse Whitefly (GHWF) Parasite

parasitic wasp

strip = 10 units of 100 parasitized scale glued on perforated cards with hooks

yields 1K parasitic wasps

no diapause, inactive < 54º F (12º C)

loose parasitized scale in increments of 1,000, better distribution than with strips

 Greenhouse whitefly (WF), attacks 2nd instar

proactive 8 to 10 weeks covers susceptible stage

silverleaf WF less preferred host

low pest density only

 1-5/10 sq ft

1 wk I, 4-6 X

2-4/ sq ft GH

8/ tom.plant

drawing CA-DPR

EN1

 

1,000 pupae/strip of 10 cards (100 wasps per 10 cards)

1 strip 29.00
2+ strips 19.00

EN10K

 

10,000 pupae/strip of 100 cards (100 wasps per 100 cards)

1 strip 72.00

EN15K

 

15,000 pupae/strip of 100 cards (150 wasps per 100 cards)

1 strip 110.5
2+ strips

99.00

ENBULK

 

loose scale in bulk minimum 5,000 or 1 ml

 5K+ (1 ml) 29.00/K
10K+ (2 ml) 19.00/K
100K+ (3 ml) 14.00/K
Eretmocerus californicus

(=E. eremicus)

Bemesia Parasite,

parasitic wasp

Eretmocerus (ER) cards

16 separate blister-pack cards each with 500 parasitized scale

yields 8K parasitic wasps

 

 silverleaf, sweet potato whitefly (Bemesia), woolly, citrus, bayberry, lesser extent greenhouse whitefly

for low pest density

use proactively for 4 to 10 weeks--covers susceptible larval stage

 

 5-20/10 ft2 

 

 

 

 ERCD5 

50 cards, 100 pupae/card, 5K total

 5,000/card 65.00
5+ cards 54.00
10+ cards 47.00

ERCD10

100 cards, 100 pupae/card, 10K total

 10,000/card 109.00
2+ cards 89.00

ERCD15

150 cards, 100 pupae/card, 15K total

 15,000/card 135.00
2+ cards 123.00

 

Encarsia/Eretmocerus,

Eretmocerus eremicus & Encarsia formosa together

 

for mixed greenhouse and sweet potato

whitefly 2nd to 4th instar larvae

  

ENER3-B

set of 30 cards , 100 pupae/card, 3K total

 3,000/set 68.00
2+ sets 58.00

ENER5-B

set of 50 cards , 100 pupae/card, 5K total

 5,000/set 62.50
2+ sets 50.80

ENER10-B

set of 100 cards, 100 pupae/card, 10K total

 10,000/set 94.00

ENER15-B

set of 150 cards, 100 pupae/card, 15K total

 15,000/set 124.00
2+ sets 113.00

ENERCD

40 blister packs, 250 pupae/blister, with bran, 10K total

 10,000/set 115.00
2+ sets 108

Aphid Biocontrol

Mealybug, Scale and Whitefly Biocontrol

Mite and Thrips Biocontrol

Caterpillar (Moth) Biocontrol

Fly Control

Leafminer and etc Biocontrol

 

Updated February, 2026