We offer a variety of parasitoids that kills the pests without affecting beneficial organisms. Also we offer some predator that destroys the mealy bugs.
1.Egg - Tricho cards Trichogramma sppTrichogramma chilonis and
Trichogramma japonicum are recommended for control of sugarcane early shoot, internodes and top borers, rice stem borer and leaf folder, cotton bollworms, tomato fruit borer, groundnut leaf defoliator, etc.
Advantages:
- Being egg parasitoid, Trichogramma destroys the pest before it emerges as larva from the egg.
- By preventing the pest at early larval stage from feeding on the crop they help to avoid the cosmetic damage on the crop.
- Eco-friendly and Cost effective
Can be used at any stage of the crop period. It is a useful alternative when chemical control is not adoptable, due to crop canopy being not accessible to sprays.
Precautions:
- Strips of Tricho-cards should be stapled on the inner side of the leaf, to avoid direct exposure of egg surface to rain and sunlight.
- Refrain from using chemical pesticides in the field where Trichogramma are released. If such need arises, use selective/ safer (Trichogramma compatible) pesticides, 7-10 days before or 5 days after release of parasitoids.
Method of release of Trichogamma Parasitoids: Trichogramma adults are sensitive to rain and high temperature. Ants and spider can also prey upon the parasitized eggs before the adult emergence. For protecting the adults, the Tricho-cards strips (blue cards-
T. chilonis; Yellow cards
T.japonicum) should be tied or stapled inside a disposable cup and their mouth closed with a mosquito net or gauze secured by a rubber band. The cups are to be tied on plants or stake in an inverted position so as to protect from rainwater and also from sun and predators. The cups are to be tied at crop height suing sticks at the different release location in a crop. Where cups are not available, the Tricho cards can be directly tied to the stake/ plant.
Trichgramma spp. Where use to control pests of plants like sugarcane, cotton, rice, vegetables, pulses or oilseeds
2. The mealybug destroyer, Cryptolaemus montrouzieriThe mealybug destroyer,
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, is a small (1/5") black lady beetle with a tan front end and a voracious appetite for mealybugs and some
soft scales.
Cryptolaemus will feed on other insects, mealybugs and soft scales are their main targets.
Life Cycle:
- Adult female beetles lay their eggs among the cottony egg sack of adult female mealy bugs. One female can lays 5-10 eggs per day. Eggs hatch into larvae in about 5 days.
- It takes another 12-17 days for these beetles to go through three larval stages and a pupal stage before they become adults. During this the larvae feed on mealy bug eggs.
- Adults emerge after 7-10 days.
- After five days, adult beetles begin to lay their eggs, up to 400 yellow eggs during their two month life span. Adults may live up to 2 months.
For Best Results
• Release in early morning or late evening, and do not wear light coloured clothing when releasing because this predator is attracted to light colours.
• Screen vents and windows to prevent escape of
Cryptolaemus.
• To keep mealy bug populations down to acceptable levels in greenhouses, several releases of
Cryptolaemus may be necessary, particularly during winter months.