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Phytoseiulus macropilis
ORIGIN: Florida, California HOST MITES: Spider mites BIOLOGY: P. macropilis is about 0.5 mm in length, reddish orange in color and has a pear shaped body. It is very similar to P. persimilis. It has five life stages, egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph, and adult. The sex ratio is typically four females to one male. The female lays an average of 2.4 eggs per day for about 30 days. Depending on temperature, Macropilis can complete egg to egg development in as little as 5 five days (300 C). At 150 it takes 25 days. Under ideal conditions, (20-250 C, 70-80% humidity, Macropilis can consume 7 adult spider mites or 20 immatures or 25 eggs/day. It is capable of multiplying its numbers 44 times in 17 days. This high rate of reproduction enables it to overcome its slower reproducing host in a relatively short time. USES: P. macropilis readily feeds on the Twospotted mite and other members of the Family Tetranychidae. It does not reproduce on pollen, insects or plants. It is well adapted to mild temperatures and high humidity ( 60-80% RH). This predator does not do well in hot greenhouses or dry interior areas (>350 C). PESTICIDES: Avoid using pesticides one week prior or one week after release of macropilis. Pyrethroides and organophosphates are highly toxic to most predators. Some materials (Lannate) may be toxic for up to four weeks. AUGMENTATION: Introduce Macropilis at first sign of spider mite activity. Apply Macropilis when spider mites infest less than 10% of the leaves. If the spider mites average more than one/leaf, treat with a miticide before using Macropilis. Apply Macropilis at the rate of 2/m2 of planted area or 2/damaged leaf or 2/plant, if plants are small. MONITORING: Spider mite and predator populations should be checked at least once a week. Reintroduce Macropilis at regular intervals in interior plantscapes and greenhouses. SHIPMENT AND HANDLING: The bottles of predators should be examined for mite activity upon arrival. Release the predators on infested plants as soon as possible. The predators are packed in an inert media (vermiculite, corn cob grits) this material aids in the distribution of the predators on the plants.
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