AMBLYTECH®

AMBLYTECH® contains Amblyseius californicus a predatory mite used for the management of Red Spider Mites (RSM). It eats all stages of RSM but prefers younger ones. Amblyseius californicus can also be used prophylactically as they also feed on Thrips and pollen and can survive for up to 3-4 weeks without food and therefore very good for prophylactic treatments and maintaining low populations of RSM.

AMBLYTECH® can be used with PHYTOTECH®  (Phytoseiulus persimilis) to manage RSM; the latter is good for hot spot treatment.

Appearance

AMBLYTECH® contains A. californicus (also called Neoseilus californicus) adults, which are specialised predatory mites which feed on two spotted mites in all lifecycle stages. A. californicus adults are approximately 0.1 mm long and are translucent with colours ranging from pale orange to peach. The nymphs resemble the adults except that they are smaller and cannot reproduce. Eggs are oblong, transparent and white to dirty white in colour. Adult females are slightly larger than males and more oval in shape. A. californicus populations have slightly more females than males (66% female).

Introduction

AMBLYTECH® is applied by sprinkling gently onto the crop.

Hold the container in a horizontal position and rotate it gently to evenly mix the predators with the carrier material. Sprinkle the contents of the container on to the foliage.

Mode of Action

A. californicus predatory adults actively hunt for two spotted mites and suck them dry. The adult predatory mite lives up to 20 days and on average eat 1-2 eggs, 1-2 nymphs or 1 adult, per day. They can also survive for short periods while feeding on pollen, making it well suited to preventative regimens.

The females can lay up to 4 eggs per day, with an average of 43 eggs over their life cycle. Eggs are laid on the leaf hairs along the veins, and on the lower surface of the leaves. Larvas hatch from the eggs within 4 days. The larvae live for 0.5-1 days. After developing into the nymph stages (protonymph and deutonymph), the mites live for up to 6 days before developing into adults. The entire life cycle takes 4-12 days at a temperature of 21ºC.

Environmental Conditions

Amblyseius californicus can tolerate low relative humidity and high temperatures.

Micro humidity should be above 60% and temperature around 21ºC.

Rates

Preventative - 25/m² every 14 days.

Light Curative - 100/m² every 7 days, repeat 3x.

Heavy Curative - 200/m² every 5-7 days, repeat 5x.

Storage

Best results will be achieved if applied on the day of receipt. Transport and store at temperatures of between 8-12° C in the dark.