Aphidius colemani – can detect aphid colonies at low pest density

• Fundamental to small aphid control strategies – targets species including cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) and green peach aphid (Myzus persicae)
• Quick to establish – the parasitic wasp develops and spreads fast in the crop laying 100s of eggs in first four days
• Excellent search behaviour – can detect and parasitise developing aphid colonies at low pest density

How does Aphidius-System work?

• Highly effective – high parasitisation rates, individual parasitic wasps can control up to 300 aphids
• Efficient – wasps only target non-parasitised aphids and controls adults and nymphs
• Parasitized aphids turn into golden brown mummies
• Homes in on pest hotspots – with good searching ability, wasps detect alarm signals from plants under attack and the smell of honeydew excreted by the host
• Can initiate panic response – causing aphids to fall to the ground and die.