Assassin bugs are predatory bugs belonging to the family Reduviidae. They are medium to large elongated insects with distinct curved mouthparts held under their body. These bugs move slowly, lying in wait for a variety of insect prey before injecting it with a paralyzing toxin. They are predators that feed mainly on aphids, small caterpillars … Read more
Ladybird beetles are also called “coccinellids”, “coccinellid beetles “, “ladybugs” or “lady beetles”. They are beetles belonging to the family Coccinellidae (order: Coleoptera). There are many species of coccinellids and a big number of these are predators of other insects. In these species, both the larvae and the adults are predators, feeding on aphids, mites, … Read more
Primary prey: aphids, mites, moths, flies, beetles, etc. Predatory stages: nymphs and adults Description and life cycle Spiders are not insects. One of their major characteristics is that they have 8 legs (insects have 6 legs). While insects have three body parts (head, thorax and abdomen) spiders have only two major parts. The front part … Read more
The name Trichogramma refers to a number of tiny wasps belonging to the family Trichogrammatidae. They are stout-bodied, minute wasps, which can hardly be seen without a hand lens or microscope. Trichogramma is an important bio-control agent as they are egg parasitoids, mainly of Lepidopteran eggs. Up to three wasp larvae may develop in each … Read more
Anastatus are small wasps belonging to the family Eupelmidae. These egg parasitoids are mass produced in laboratories of the pest management centers of DOAE. Host eggs glued on cards are placed in plastic containers and adult female wasps are released to parasitize these eggs. The cards are then placed in the field where adult wasps … Read more
Many natural enemies (predators, parasitoids, pathogens) are commonly found in most crops where they play a role in the natural control of pests. Some natural enemies can be mass produced and then released in the field to stimulate natural control. In some case this mass production is done in laboratories, but there are also examples … Read more
Garlic spray is generally an effective, short-term repellent. It is a botanical product that can repel or kill soft-bodied insects. To make garlic spray you can use the following recipe: Ingredients: bullet 100 grams of finely chopped or crushed garlic bullet 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil bullet 30 gram pure soap bullet Water Procedure: bullet … Read more
Marigolds (Tagetes sp.) belong to the family Compositae. These plants are known to control a wide range of nematodes including the Meloidogyne (root-knot nematodes) and Pratylenchus. Marigolds can be used as a cover crop or in a crop rotation. When grown as a mono-culture in high density their nematode suppressing effect is highest. Extracts of … Read more
Fungal spores or bacteria can infect seeds while they are still developing on the plant or after the harvest. These pathogens will then cause diseases in the next crop (seed-borne diseases). To protect against seed-borne diseases several types of seed treatment can be used: Hot water treatment Spores or bacteria that are attached to seeds … Read more
“Bt” is the common name for a type of microbial insecticide which contains living spores and toxic crystals from a soil bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis. Bt is used mostly against larvae (caterpillars) of the diamondback moth, imported cabbageworm, cabbage looper, cluster caterpillars (armyworms), and tomato fruitworm (Figures 1-6). Many liquid and dry forms of Bt … Read more
