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Mite-E for Spider Mite Control
Mite-E is a highly active predatory mite that specialises in feeding on two spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) and other plant-feeding mite species in the family Tetranychidae. PRICE: Dependant on purchase plus GST and Freight.
Beneficial Invertebrates
Mite-E ™ is known to be useful in both greenhouse and outdoor crops, such as rose, orchid, bean, capsicum and strawberry as part of an integrated pest management programme.
Not 100% compatible with Mite-A™, which is a more generalist predator, be careful not to apply high concentrations of Mite-A™ with Mite-E™ applications.
Same week delivery is not guaranteed as products are subject to availability. If unsure, please contact Bioforce directly, although be assured that we always aim to deliver as promptly as possible.
Products will only be sent on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and will not be sent on public holidays. Orders placed after 1pm on Wednesday will likely be sent the following week. Please contact Bioforce directly by phone if immediate delivery is required, and we will endeavour to accommodate you. As these products are live organisms, it is important that they arrive quickly to their destination, and we do not send when it is possible they will be in transit over a weekend. Next day delivery is not guaranteed and customers should follow up with CourierPost using the tracking information provided on dispatch.
Bioforce will contact the purchaser advising you of the intended sending date, but only if products will not be shipped within the week of purchase. Please do not purchase the product online if you are unsure, however if the product has been purchased and you are unhappy with the delivery date, we will happily refund you the full amount. Please contact us immediately to complete this, as there will be no refunds once the goods have been sent.
Greenhouse crops | Low pest pressure: 4 predator mites per square metre | 1 bottle per 250m2 |
Higher pressure: 20-50 predatory mites per square metre | 1 bottle per 20-50m2 | |
Field crops | 1 predator mite per 2.5 square metres | 1 bottle per 400m2 |
Strawberry crops | 1 predator mite per 2.5 square metres | 1 bottle per 400m2 |
Adult female Mite-E™ lays her eggs amongst colonies of two-spotted spider mites.
Both nymph and adult predatory mites actively search for their prey and will feed voraciously on all stages of spider mite from eggs through to adults.
Under optimal conditions (20°C and 65% RH) Mite-E™ has the potential to devour up to five adult spider mites and twenty eggs and larvae per day, thus reducing two spotted spider mite populations over several weeks.
Mite-E™ is almost entirely dependent on two spotted spider mite as a source of food; once all prey has been consumed they will go out in search of a new food supply. If no food is found, the mites may become cannibalistic.
Under optimal conditions , Mite-E™ has a substantially faster life cycle than two spotted spider mite. The sex ratio of adult Mite-E™is four females to each male, and females are capable of laying up to 60 eggs in their life time. These factors contribute to the success of Mite-E™ as a predator.
Mite-E™ is not considered harmful to humans and animals, and no environmental impacts are expected.
Mite-E™ will consume two spotted spider mites and reproduce at temperatures and humidity that are not ideal, but at a slower rate.
Each unit has a small quantity of two spotted spider mites as a food source during transit.
Once received:
- GENTLY ROTATE EACH CONTAINER TO MIX CONTENTS
- DO NOT REFRIGERATE
- Do not expose to direct sunlight
- Keep in darkness and in a cool environment – ideal temperature 10-12 ° C.
- Apply to the crop as soon as possible, ideally within 1-2 days
- Open the container in the infested area
- Open one container at a time and apply the contents immediately
- Distribute the product evenly over infested plants throughout the crop
- Leave the container and lid resting against an infested plant for a day or two
Two spotted spider mites that have been eaten change from pale green to brown and appear shrivelled. Use a 10x hand lens to check, as live and dead mites can appear similar to the naked eye.
Before introducing Mite-E™ into your crop please check residual chemical affects and ensure you know chemical compatibilities of products that may be applied.
A list of compatible pesticides and withholding periods can be found in the publication ‘The Good Bug Book’ Second Edition (2002), Editor Richard Llewellyn. Excerpts of the book can be obtained from the Persimilis page of the Australasian Biological Control Association website, click here then scroll to the bottom of the page.