Active principle: APHIDIUS COLEMANI

General schedule

Aphidius colemani, native of the Center Asian and Mediterranean regions, is an Imenottero Braconide that it is in position to parasitize, with great effectiveness, some kinds of aphids. Its employment essentially concerns the struggle against Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae while is practically negligible its effect against other kinds (es. Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Aulacorthum solani). The adult has the blackish and tapered body, long feelers and measure few less than 2 mm. It is an endophagous and solitary parasite; in fact the female, bending the abdomen in characteristic way, deposes only an egg inside the aphid, whose body, after few swells, slowly turning itself into a "mummy" by the typical brown-clear color and of papery consistence. The biological cycle at 20°C develops within 2 weeks during which the grub of the parasite empties completely the guest's body, where the adult subsequently flutters practising a characteristic circular hole. The longevity of the adult doesn't exceed the 5-8 days during which 400 aphids can become parasites. The temperatures between 16 and 22°C constitute the optimum for this kind, while if the thermal level is constantly above the 28-30°C the activity decreases. The females frequent the sites of installation of the aphids, also attracted by the fabrics of the plant, so the ability of the search is elevated with a very low infestations. This enables a precocious interventions to stop the development of the infestations (particularly of A. gossypii). MODALITIES OF USE: Considering the redoubt longevity of the adult and the appearance of the aphids, it is necessary to program a series of 4-6 launching at weekly term to guarantee a continuous activity. A. colemani is distributed in bottles that generally contain a part of adults that easily disperse themselves, and a part of mummies that must be distribute on the vegetation, in particular around the first hotbeds of infestation. Launching are recommended, every from 0,5-1 individuals /m2s, to repeat 4-6 times, according to the development of the infestation.

Advertisement :