Stethorus punctillum

Regular price $51.95 Sale

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These are live insects and MUST be shipped OVERNIGHT. No USPS or ground shipping.

TARGET PEST: Two-spotted spider mite, European red mite, Spruce spider mite, Southern red mite.

RELEASE RATES:
*Note: These rates are for preventative control only, multiple releases and/or higher quantities are necessary for heavier infestations.

RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS:
Once you have arrived home with your Stethorus, you must use them immediately. Stethorus punctillum cannot be stored. Release weekly for 3-4 weeks by shaking out the insects onto "hot spots" where spider mite infestation is greatest. General release rates are 100 adult beetles per hot spot.Stethorus are shipped in small containers of 50 or 100 adults. They are shipped in shredded paper or other packing material to provide protection; mortality in these containers should be less than 10%. Once the beetles warm up they become active immediately and should be released into the spider mite infested areas as soon as possible.

DESCRIPTION:
Stethorus is a specialized spider mite predator in the lady beetle family.
Adults are tiny, 1.5mm (1/10 inch) long, dark brown to black, oval beetles with brownish yellow antennae, mouthparts and legs. The larvae are slow-moving, gray, with conspicuous legs. They move from plant to plant on leaves. Eggs are yellowish ovals, laid singly in or near mite colonies. Adult beetles can fly and have an unusually good ability to find small infestations of spider mites.

LIFESPAN:
The complete life cycle takes 14 to 20 days at 21° – 26°C (70-80 F). Female beetles lay 3 – 13 eggs per day. Over their long life span (up to 2 years) females can lay over 1000 eggs. Females must eat 20 – 40 spider mites per day to initiate and sustain egg laying. Larvae feed for 10-14 days. A single larva can consume 240 spider mites as it develops from egg to adult. Older larvae migrate down the plant to pupate and pupae are often found along leaf veins on the undersides of leaves. Adults emerge from pupae in 6-7 days. Both larvae and adult beetles feed on all stages of mites. Adults can eat over 50 mite eggs and 10 adult mites per day. If food is scarce, they will also feed on other small arthropod eggs, aphids, nectar and pollen and will cannibalize their own species.

If necessary, beetles can be stored for a few days at 10° - 16°C (50°-61°F), but longer storage will reduce egg laying and adult life span. Best control of spider mites is achieved when Stethorus is used along with predatory mites. Use care when removing leaves from infested plants. Keep any leaves with Stethorus pupae in the greenhouse one week or until adult beetles have emerged. The pesticide fenbutatin oxide (Vendex ) can be used with Stethorus for additional control of spider mites if "hot spots" develop. It does not harm Stethorus, but avoid over-spraying, which reduces the predators food supply and their ability to reproduce.Spreader-stickers, supreme oils and soaps are harmful to beetles contacted by the spray, but have little residual activity.

STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS: Best control of spider mites is achieved when Stethorus is used along with predatory mites. Use care when removing leaves from infested plants. Keep any leaves with Stethorus pupae in the greenhouse one week or until adult beetles have emerged. The pesticide fenbutatin oxide (Vendex ) can be used with Stethorus for additional control of spider mites if “hot spots” develop. It does not harm Stethorus, but avoid over-spraying, which reduces the predators food supply and their ability to reproduce. Spreader-stickers, supreme oils and soaps are harmful to beetles contacted by the spray, but have little residual activity.

FOR BEST RESULTS
Best results to control spider mites is attained when Stethorus is used along with predatory mites (Fallacis and Persimilis). Be cautious removing leaves from infested plants. Keep leaves with Stethorus pupae in the greenhouse until adult beetles appear.

Stethorus is a great option for cannabis growers in the flowering stage as it is not deterred by the trichomes of the plant. Weekly applications should provide sufficient control of two spot spider mites in flower.