What is Neoseiulus californicus (Spical)?
Neoseiulus californicus is a general predatory mite that primarily attacks spider mites, but will also feed on many other leaf inhabiting mites (even some microscopic species), other small insects and pollen. While Californicus is mainly used in greenhouse crops, it may also be used in the field.
Californicus is tolerant of various temperatures and low humidity, but works best under warm to hot conditions. It tolerates higher temperatures and lower humidity than Persimilis. When pests are low, Californicus will feed on pollen which keeps predatory populations around your crop. While some predators will actively seek out new prey in the absence of food, most will stay on the crop and wait for the arrival of new pests.
Description
Neoseiulus californicus are tiny (0.5mm long), pear-shaped and tan in color. Males are much smaller and darker in color (dark brown) than females. There are usually slightly more females in Californicus populations.
Life Cycle
Females will lay about 60 eggs over a lifetime, at the rate of about 2-3 per day. The eggs are oval and pearly white in color, and laid on the underside of leaves where spider mite populations are high. The eggs hatch after 1-2 days, where they will pass through a 6 legged larval and two different 8 legged nymphal stages before adulthood. Depending on temperature, the cycle from egg to adult is roughly 4-10 days, and then another 20 days as an adult.
For Best Results
- Keep containers horizontal and cool until use.
- Do not expose to direct sunlight at any time.
- Immediately before opening, gently rotate the container to distribute mites evenly throughout the carrier.
- Open each container in the crop when ready to use.
- Sprinkle the mixture onto the leaves of the crop, applying more into and around developing spider mite colonies.
- Introduce Amblyseius californicus at 0.5 mites/1ft² as one or more applications.
- Increase application to 2.5 mites/1ft in hot spots.
- Keep out of direct sunlight.
- Transport and store at 50-59°F and >65% humidity.
- Use within 18 hours of receipt.
Californicus works best when used preventatively, or when spider mites are first noticed on the crop. Best results are seen when Californicus is allowed to build up before the spider mite populations are able to establish themselves.
Introduction Rates
Apply 5 - 15 per 10 square feet
The predators should be distributed evenly throughout the crop on the foliage, with higher concentrations at the end of row and in warmer areas that are prone to spider mites. They should be released as soon as possible after receipt.
Avoid releases in temperatures below 45° F. or above 85° F and during dry windy conditions. It is extremely important to release predators as soon as pest mites appear in the crop.
Application Tips:
Sachets:
- Hang from crop wire or immediately below plant canopy
- Do not hang adjacent to heating pipes
- Duration of sachet activity is 3-6 weeks, though longer-lasting control may be evident if the mites establish in the crop
- Use at one per 6.5ft of crop row.
Shaker Tube (Bulk):
- Shake small quantities of Neoseiulus californicus onto the crop, near base of plant, or…
- We have found it to be very effective to create multiple release points by distributing bulk product from liter containers into solo cups, with hooks, and hang in plant’s canopy.
- Avoid applying near flowers - the product and its carrier agent will stick to the trichomes.
- Introduce Neoseiulus californicus early in the crop/pest cycle to protect against pest build up
Storage and Transport:
- Keep out of direct sunlight
- Transport and store at 50F - 59F
- Use within 18 hours of receipt
When and where should you use it?
Apply the sachets to any convenient location on the plant, such as a leaf petiole, twig or small branch. In crops grown against supports, or trained along wires, the sachets can be placed on these structures, but should always be shaded from direct sunlight.
Some mites will be found up to 20 centimeters ahead of the main infestation. Placing the sachets above this mass will allow the predators to feed on the advancing mites before they cause damage: placing sachets lower down means that the predators are approaching this mass from below, and are only able to remove pest mites after the damage has been caused.
How should you use it?
For best results, apply the sachets when pest mite numbers are low. The predatory mites will then be able to feed on small colonies of pest mites and prevent them from growing and causing major damage.
Adult female mites lay single eggs onto leaf hairs, and these eggs hatch after 2-3 days to become larvae. As with other mites in the same family, these molt to produce protonymphs and then deutonymphs as they grow. All mobile stages are predatory, and will feed on eggs, juveniles and adults of spider mites. They are also able to feed on Eriophyid mites, commonly known as Rust or Russet Mites, which are tiny, worm like mites which can cause major damage on some crops.
As days become shorter and temperatures decrease in early autumn the mites will enter diapause, a state in which they can successfully survive winter conditions. They are reported to become active again as early as January, but this will be dependent upon ambient temperature and food availability.
When should you not use it?
Neoseiulus californicus (previously Amblyseius californicus) is intended as a preventive treatment for spider mite and other mite pests, which is why they are best used before pest populations have reached high levels. If pest mite populations are very high, and major damage is visible on the crop, use an alternative treatment, such as an acaricide prior to the introduction of Neoseiulus californicus.
What will it do?
Used as directed, Neoseiulus californicus will control or limit spider mite populations and significantly reduce pest damage. On some crops no other treatment is necessary. In other crops the additional use of beneficials to control pest outbreaks may be necessary. If you have questions about which combinations are best for your situation, please feel free to reach out.
What will it not do, and what are the control options?
Where pest populations are high at the time of release, control may be slow to occur and damage to the crop will continue. If you have questions about whether you are at a stage that using beneficials would be recommended, please feel free to reach out.
