Product Information

Stethorus

Scientific Name:

Family: Coccinellidae
Genus: Stethorus

Common Name:  Spider Mite Destroyer                      

Host Pest: Two-spotted, Pacific and Spruce Spider Mites; European and Southern Red Mites

Host Plants: Almonds, Fruit Orchards, Cucumbers, Peppers, Hydroponics

Life Stages Shipped: Adults

Development: Eggs are laid singly on the undersides of leaves. Females lay more or less eggs depending on the pest mite density. The larvae are gray to blackish, hairy and go through four molts. The pupae are black and flattened. The adults are very small (1/16”), shiny and black. 

Predation Rate: Stethorus adults can consume 50 mite eggs per day or 75 to 100 pest mites per day. Large larvae can eat up to 75 pest mites per day. Stethorus will also feed upon other small arthropod eggs, aphids, nectar, and pollen.

Environment: 

Ideal temperatures range from 60° – 90°F (16°-35°C)
Wide range of Relative Humidity – 20% to 85%
Will enter diapause in winter; to keep insects active, provide supplemental lighting to increase day length to 16 hours.

Pesticides:  Use may not be compatible. Request technical information on specific pesticides.

Release:

• Release adult beetles around mite hot spots. They are strong fliers and will concentrate in area where the pest mite density is high. If disturbed, the beetles will drop to the ground or fly away.
• There must be 2 - 5 motile pest mites per leaf to keep the spider mite destroyers in an orchard and areas of 8 - 10 pest mites per leaf are required for females to lay eggs.
• Stethorus can be used along with predatory mites, such as Neoseiulus californicus, to achieve even better control of pest mites.