ARBICO Organics Green Lacewing Larvae

Pre-Hatched Green Lacewing Larvae Ready To Eat Your Pests Upon Arrival.

Ships FREE via Overnight methods on Tuesdays Only. MINIMUM 7-day processing prior to shipment.

Green Lacewing larvae, ideal for controlling aphids, are commonly used as generalist predators for garden and farm insect control. Predatory in the larval stage, Green Lacewing feed on a wide range of soft-bodied insects in various life stages. Lacewing larvae are preferred to Assassin Bugs and Minute Pirate Bugs in some growing environments as they are less likely to feed on other beneficial insect populations.

Green Lacewing larvae paralyze their prey with venom and feed on the body fluids of the pest. Each lacewing larva will devour 200 or more pests or pest eggs per week during their two to three week developmental period. Lacewing adults can survive the winter in highly sheltered areas; however, most overwintering occurs as pupae or eggs.

Optimal Temperatures: 67-90°F, RH >30%

Preferred Food: Aphids, Mealybugs, Spider Mites, Leafhopper Nymphs, Caterpillar Eggs, Immature & Soft Scale, Thrips, and Whiteflies.

For best results, cultivate habitats that encourage adult lacewing to reproduce and remain in the release area. Nectar, pollen, and honeydew stimulate their reproductive process. If these food sources are not available, adults may disperse. Consider planting annual and perennial plants (Good Bug Power Blend) to provide pollen and nectar throughout the year. ARBICO's Good Bug Power Meal provides an artificial diet for the adults and contains necessary nutrients for reproduction. Studies have shown that spraying field crops with supplemental food sources increases egg laying considerably.

Release Rates: Release Green Lacewing larvae at a rate of 2 larvae per 20 pest insects, 2 larvae per square foot or 10,000-50,000 larvae per acre. Larvae should be released immediately upon receipt. Treat severe infestations using integrated pest management methods. It may be beneficial to use a knockdown spray prior to releasing beneficial insects in these cases.

What's In The Package: 2nd instar Green Lacewing Larvae (Chrysoperla rufilabris) mixed with buckwheat. Hex frames do not contain any carrier medium.

**PLEASE NOTE:** Ants and aphids have a symbiotic relationship. This is due to the fact that ants value the secretions of the aphids (honeydew) as a food source. The ants aggressively protect the aphids from other insect threats and the aphids produce the honeydew they crave. For this reason, before you begin any treatment to control aphids with predatory insects you will need to eradicate the ants in the area to be treated. Otherwise, they will wipe out any beneficials you introduce.

Instructions

Bottle & Bag Releases: Prior to releasing Green Lacewing larvae, tilt and gently rotate the bottle/bag to mix contents. Keep the container sealed until you are in the treatment area. Once you are ready to apply, open the container and gently tap contents directly onto plant foliage in areas affected by pests. Disperse throughout the growing area. It may be beneficial to mist down foliage prior to applications as it raises the relative humidity and allows the medium to stick more easily.

Hex Frame Releases: Peel back the organdy material covering the compartments little by little. Gently tap the larvae onto the target plants or treatment areas. The larvae should be released on the day of receipt. Focus on spreading lacewing larvae throughout the affected area when releasing. Mobility from plant to plant can be limited if plants do not touch.

Green lacewing larvae will feed for 2-3 weeks, after which they pupate into adults. At this time, you may wish to introduce more larvae or eggs depending on the severity of pest issues and your growing season.

Environment: Outdoors, Crops, Orchards & Vineyards, Nursery, Greenhouse, Grow Room, Hydroponics, Aquaponics, Pond & Environment, Interiorscapes, Container Plants

Storage: On receipt, place containers in a cool shaded area until ready to use. Do not expose to direct sunlight.

Viability Note: If you plan to check for viability, please do so upon receipt and prior to releasing the beneficial insects. Many predators and parasites are small and can be difficult to spot once released. If you believe there are issues with viability, please contact us at 1-800-827-2847 or customercare@arbico.com.

Technical

Warning & Toxicities: Larvae are cannibalistic if confined together without food. Release as soon as possible.

Shelf Life: Release as soon as possible after receipt. If immediate release is not possible, place containers in a cool shaded area until ready to use. Use within 4 hours of receipt.

This Product Controls These Pests or Diseases: Alfalfa Weevil (Hypera postica Gyllenhal), Aphids (Mult), Armyworms (Pseudaletia unipuncta), Asparagus Beetles (Crioceris asparagi (common); Crioceris duodecimpunctata (spotted)), Bean Beetles - Mexican Bean Beetle (Epilachna varivestis Mulsant), Bean Thrips (Caliothrips fasciatus), Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua (Hubner)), Beet Leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus), Black Scale (Saissetia oleae), Brown Almond Mite (Bryobia rubrioculus), California Laurel Aphid (Euthoracaphis umbellulariae), Caterpillar Eggs (Mult), Coconut Mealybug (Nipaecoccus nipae), Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), Grape Leafhopper (Erythroneura elegantula), Greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum), Armyworms (Circulifer tenellus), Leafhopper (Empoasca sp), Mealybug (Planococcus citri), Mealybug (Pseudococcus sp), Mexican Bean Beetle (Epilachna varivestis Mulsant), Mites (Tetranychus sp), Oleander Scale (Phenacaspis sp), Potato Leafhopper (Empoasca fabae), Potato Leafhopper; Bean Jassid (Empoasca fabae), Psyllids (Mult), Scale (Mult.), Silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia sp), Spider Mites (Mult), Sweet Potato Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), Sweetpotato Whitefly (Bemisia sp), Thrips (Franklinothrips sp), Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens), Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)