Either large or small aphids? The battle is on!

What is Aphidius-Mix-System?

• Parasitic wasp combination consisting of Aphidius colemani and Aphidius ervi
• A. ervi controls large aphid species such as the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae and the foxglove aphid Aulacorthum solani
• A. colemani controls small aphid species such as the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae  

What are the benefits of Aphidius-Mix-System?

• Can be used against mixed aphid populations with both small and large aphid species
• Very good search behaviour that allows them to detect and parasitize incipient aphid hot spots at low prey density
• Spreads fast in the crop

How does biological control with Aphidius-Mix-System work?

• Female parasitic wasps puncture the aphids and lay about 100 eggs in the aphids, most of them during the first 4 days of their adult life
• They can parasitize up to 300 aphids
• The parasitic wasps detect alarm signals from an affected plant and the smell of honeydew excreted by the host. This allows them to locate aphid hot spots from a long distance
• The parasitic wasps parasitize both adults and nymphs
• Parasitized aphids turn into golden brown mummies
• Parasitic wasps can cause a panic reaction, due to which the aphids fall onto the ground and die

In which crops can you introduce Aphidius-Mix-System?

• Ornamental crops such as chrysanthemum and gerbera
• Vegetable crops such as tomato, eggplant and pepper
• Soft fruit such as strawberry and raspberry
• Tree nursery

Want to know more? Please contact your Biobest advisor for tailored advice.

Units