What is natural pest control?
5 Minute Read
Natural pest control, also sometimes called "biological controls" or "organic pest control", involves the use of natural predators to control harmful pests, in other words using live, beneficial bugs to attack and eradicate garden pests.It's a bug eat bug world!
These natural pest controls are easy and safe to use and create excellent levels of environmentally friendly protection against pests for your plants, garden and greenhouse. The use of organic pest controls also encourages beneficial insects such as hoverflies and ladybirds into your garden too, providing a chemical-free control of pests.
All of our biological controls are safe for use in your garden and greenhouse and are harmless to other beneficial insects and the environment. Natural pest controls are also really effective in vertical green walls, maintaining the health of plants on display.
All of our biological controls are safe for use in your garden and greenhouse and are harmless to other beneficial insects and the environment. Natural pest controls are also really effective in vertical green walls, maintaining the health of plants on display.
Aphids
Aphids are sometimes also known as greenfly or blackfly. Most kinds of plant can be infested with aphids. They are one of the most common garden pests and can reproduce quickly. Aphids suck the sap out of a plant, which removes nutrients and weakens it. Though aphids often seem fairly slow or immobile, they can still find their way to neighbouring plants in your garden or greenhouse. Temperature and overcrowding are both factors that can prompt aphids to grow wings. If and when this happens an awful lot of your other garden plants will be in danger of aphid infestation and damage.
The most obvious sign of aphids is simply seeing them. The little black bugs will be visible on the stems and leaves of a plant. Signs of the damage they cause include leaf distortion, leaf yellowing, a sticky upper-surface on the leaves, white skins on the upper-surface of leaves and sometimes black sooty mould from the sticky honeydew produced by aphids.
How do you get rid of these pesky little bugs? We've got some tiny garden heroes to come and save the day. Live ladybirds and ladybird larvae are a solid choice. These well-known gardener's friends can decimate populations of aphids. Parasitic wasps and lacewing larvae are other options to combat aphids. Our friendly little predators are simple to release and effective. Each work similarly, find out more about each option below.
Make sure to release the ladybirds as soon as possible once they have arrived to avoid them eating each other in the bottle.
Apply ladybirds when the Aphids are present on plants. Make sure the temperature is above 10°C but try to keep it between 15°C and 20°C for best control.
Release from May to mid-August, they can be released earlier if they will be in a greenhouse, however, do not release them if there is any food around as they will either starve or eat each other.
The most obvious sign of aphids is simply seeing them. The little black bugs will be visible on the stems and leaves of a plant. Signs of the damage they cause include leaf distortion, leaf yellowing, a sticky upper-surface on the leaves, white skins on the upper-surface of leaves and sometimes black sooty mould from the sticky honeydew produced by aphids.
How do you get rid of these pesky little bugs? We've got some tiny garden heroes to come and save the day. Live ladybirds and ladybird larvae are a solid choice. These well-known gardener's friends can decimate populations of aphids. Parasitic wasps and lacewing larvae are other options to combat aphids. Our friendly little predators are simple to release and effective. Each work similarly, find out more about each option below.
How Lacewing Larvae Work
Lacewing larvae are sometimes known as predator of aphids and carry the nickname of “aphid lion” as one larva alone can consume 100 – 600 aphids within its life.
The adult lacewings hibernate over the winter and breed in the summer. The first larvae that emerge are brown and roughly 4mm long. The older larvae are much paler and are around 13mm long with bristles on their back. A young larva of predatory lacewing, an extremely active predator with large pincers used to attack, hold and suck the juices from the pest body. Lacewings are supplied as juveniles or larvae; this depends on the time of year.
Lacewings are flying insects that are very common, they are about 12-15mm and have green bodies and lovely delicate lacy wings which fold onto their back when they are resting. They eat honey, pollen and nectar when they are mature, therefore getting larvae or juveniles is important as they eat greenfly, red spider mite, whitefly eggs, mealybug, scale insect, thrips and caterpillars.
Lacewings are also able to tolerate small amounts of pesticide residue and are naturally occurring within the UK.
How to use
Lightly rotate and roll the shaker tub to evenly spread out the larvae around the carrier. Sprinkle the contents of the tube onto leaves towards the bottom of the plant. If you would prefer, you can sprinkle these into small paper cones placed within the leaves.
Lacewings are able to survive in cooler temperatures; however, their life cycle is significantly slower which could cause pest populations to increase in the time that the larvae take to hatch. The best temperature to keep them at is between 15°C & 30°C. Temperatures above 30°C could have negative effects. At 22°C the eggs take roughly a week to hatch, at 15°C they take 2 weeks to hatch and at 28°C it could be a matter of days.
The adult lacewings hibernate over the winter and breed in the summer. The first larvae that emerge are brown and roughly 4mm long. The older larvae are much paler and are around 13mm long with bristles on their back. A young larva of predatory lacewing, an extremely active predator with large pincers used to attack, hold and suck the juices from the pest body. Lacewings are supplied as juveniles or larvae; this depends on the time of year.
Lacewings are flying insects that are very common, they are about 12-15mm and have green bodies and lovely delicate lacy wings which fold onto their back when they are resting. They eat honey, pollen and nectar when they are mature, therefore getting larvae or juveniles is important as they eat greenfly, red spider mite, whitefly eggs, mealybug, scale insect, thrips and caterpillars.
Lacewings are also able to tolerate small amounts of pesticide residue and are naturally occurring within the UK.
How to use
Lightly rotate and roll the shaker tub to evenly spread out the larvae around the carrier. Sprinkle the contents of the tube onto leaves towards the bottom of the plant. If you would prefer, you can sprinkle these into small paper cones placed within the leaves.
Lacewings are able to survive in cooler temperatures; however, their life cycle is significantly slower which could cause pest populations to increase in the time that the larvae take to hatch. The best temperature to keep them at is between 15°C & 30°C. Temperatures above 30°C could have negative effects. At 22°C the eggs take roughly a week to hatch, at 15°C they take 2 weeks to hatch and at 28°C it could be a matter of days.
How Ladybird and Ladybird larvae Work
Ladybirds are the gardeners’ favourite for Aphid control. The adult and the larvae are completely ravenous and will eat any greenfly or blackfly in their path. The ladybirds we stock are the red, two-spotted ladybird, named Adalia Bipunctata – a native species to the UK.
Ladybirds are the gardeners’ favourite for Aphid control. The adult and the larvae are completely ravenous and will eat any greenfly or blackfly in their path. The ladybirds we stock are the red, two-spotted ladybird, named Adalia Bipunctata – a native species to the UK.
Adult ladybirds can lay up to 50 yellow ladybird eggs a day under the leaves of plants and up to 1500 in their life to continue to cycle of natural pest control. The larvae are a grey colour with orange markings and measure up to be roughly 0.5mm long, they are much more voracious than their parents.
How to use
Open the bottle cap and release the Ladybirds either first thing in the morning or last thing and night by gently scattering them over affected plants.
Open the bottle cap and release the Ladybirds either first thing in the morning or last thing and night by gently scattering them over affected plants.
Make sure to release the ladybirds as soon as possible once they have arrived to avoid them eating each other in the bottle.
Apply ladybirds when the Aphids are present on plants. Make sure the temperature is above 10°C but try to keep it between 15°C and 20°C for best control.
Release from May to mid-August, they can be released earlier if they will be in a greenhouse, however, do not release them if there is any food around as they will either starve or eat each other.
How Parasitic Wasps Work
These parasitic wasps are released into the same environment as the Aphids and will lay a single egg inside the Aphid, after 2/3 days the egg hatches and wasp larvae emerge which feed on the aphid.
If you are aware that you have got an aphid problem, the sooner you release the wasps the more effective they will be. Even more effective if you do not have an aphid yet but are aware that they usually come around this time.
Using this method is a completely organic method to get rid of Aphids and is an effective alternative to chemicals.
How to Use
Once you are in your greenhouse next to the plant that needs protection, open the bottle and lightly sprinkle the contents of the vial onto the leaves of the plant. After this, leave the open tube on the soil of the plant so that the remainder can fly away.
If the husks fall off the leaves and onto the soil or bench, don’t worry too much, just avoid sprinkling them onto areas that are likely to get watered or cultivated. If you would only like to treat a small area, you may just lay the tube on its side with the top open and let the insects fly out once they have hatched.
If you need to wait before you put them out, make sure they are stored in a cool place to stop them from hatching and dying from starvation. The recommended temperature for storage is between 5°C - 10°C and you should ensure that the tube is stored in the dark, on its side. Do not store them for more than two days. The sooner they are released the more success you will have.
These wasps are the most effective when they are kept in temperatures above 15°C.
Using this method is a completely organic method to get rid of Aphids and is an effective alternative to chemicals.
How to Use
Once you are in your greenhouse next to the plant that needs protection, open the bottle and lightly sprinkle the contents of the vial onto the leaves of the plant. After this, leave the open tube on the soil of the plant so that the remainder can fly away.
If the husks fall off the leaves and onto the soil or bench, don’t worry too much, just avoid sprinkling them onto areas that are likely to get watered or cultivated. If you would only like to treat a small area, you may just lay the tube on its side with the top open and let the insects fly out once they have hatched.
If you need to wait before you put them out, make sure they are stored in a cool place to stop them from hatching and dying from starvation. The recommended temperature for storage is between 5°C - 10°C and you should ensure that the tube is stored in the dark, on its side. Do not store them for more than two days. The sooner they are released the more success you will have.
These wasps are the most effective when they are kept in temperatures above 15°C.
Caterpillars
Caterpillars are little eating machines. Just one cabbage white can lay 20 eggs and before you know it your radishes are ravaged and your brassicas have been massacred! Signs of caterpillar damage can be obvious such as numerous holes in leaves, but also can be more subtle, such as small notches eaten out of the edges of a leaf, known as 'scalloping'. Look for caterpillars themselves on the underside of leaves.
How do you get rid of these voracious vegetable vandals? Our microscopic allies are nematodes that come in the form of a spray that can be applied directly onto affected leaves. The nematodes seek out various insect larvae, including the caterpillars of many butterfly and moth species, and kill them.
Options for caterpillar control: Parasitic nematodes (Exhibitlibe SC).
How do you get rid of these voracious vegetable vandals? Our microscopic allies are nematodes that come in the form of a spray that can be applied directly onto affected leaves. The nematodes seek out various insect larvae, including the caterpillars of many butterfly and moth species, and kill them.
Options for caterpillar control: Parasitic nematodes (Exhibitlibe SC).
Exhibitline Nematodes can be used for overwintering stages of codling moth (Cydia pomonella) and oriental fruit moth (Cydia molesta) and other caterpillar species. Also used for shore fly (Ephydridae) and can be used for large pine weevil control.
How it works
The Exhibitline spray application releases nematodes which seek out insect larvae and in some cases, pupae. Caterpillar foliar spray or soil drench when pest first seen. Codling moth or Oriental Fruit moth September to October. Effective at temperatures between 14 - 30°C.
How to use
Caterpillar (Noctuidae & Pyralidae), wet areas first, spray directly onto caterpillars. Repeat after 5-7 or 7-14 days. 50 million per 100m². Codling moth and Oriental Fruit moth, overwintering stage: apply when trunks and soil are thoroughly wet as a coarse spray to remain wet for at least 8 hours.
Chafer Grubs
Chafer grubs are the larvae of beetles, and are the scourge of lawns turning pristine grassy areas into patchworks of yellow unhealthy grass and bare areas. Natural predators such as birds can pick off a few of them, but larger grub eating burrowers might do more harm than good and none will make enough of a dent in the population.
The only effective solution is a product called NemaTrident. Containing a nematode that kills chafer grubs, this product is applied through watering and returns your lawn to health within weeks so that you can enjoy a lush green garden again.
How Exhibitline HB works
Exhibitline HB is an organic control of Vine Weevil and Chafer Grub pests. Exhibitline HB consists of a beneficial Nematode (juveniles) species.
Nematodes are applied through irrigation systems and provide a fast and effective control of Black Vine Weevil. After Exhibitline HB has been applied, they will get straight to work by entering the natural body openings or penetrating the pest cuticle of the Vine Weevil larvae. Once they get in, they release bacteria. Bacteria develop within the insect and it dies of septicaemia. The Nematodes will reproduce inside the body of the Vine Weevil larvae which begins a cycle until the nematodes run out of a host pest.
Exhibitline H can treat the following:
• Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
• Strawberry root weevil (Otiorynchus ovatus)
• Chafer grub (Phyllopertha horticola)
How to use
Use Exhibitline HB immediately upon receipt or store in a 5ºC fridge for no more than 2 days and use it when Vine Weevil larvae are present. Apply to plants in moist soil or growing medium. Avoid application in direct sunlight and ensure there is plenty of water in the soil to make sure the root ball is treated properly. Aim to apply in the evening.
Chafer grub: In accordance with the Garden Chafer life cycle - when the larvae are close to the soil surface and when the soil surface is above 12°C. Typically treat from August to September.
The only effective solution is a product called NemaTrident. Containing a nematode that kills chafer grubs, this product is applied through watering and returns your lawn to health within weeks so that you can enjoy a lush green garden again.
How Exhibitline HB works
Exhibitline HB is an organic control of Vine Weevil and Chafer Grub pests. Exhibitline HB consists of a beneficial Nematode (juveniles) species.
Nematodes are applied through irrigation systems and provide a fast and effective control of Black Vine Weevil. After Exhibitline HB has been applied, they will get straight to work by entering the natural body openings or penetrating the pest cuticle of the Vine Weevil larvae. Once they get in, they release bacteria. Bacteria develop within the insect and it dies of septicaemia. The Nematodes will reproduce inside the body of the Vine Weevil larvae which begins a cycle until the nematodes run out of a host pest.
Exhibitline H can treat the following:
• Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
• Strawberry root weevil (Otiorynchus ovatus)
• Chafer grub (Phyllopertha horticola)
How to use
Use Exhibitline HB immediately upon receipt or store in a 5ºC fridge for no more than 2 days and use it when Vine Weevil larvae are present. Apply to plants in moist soil or growing medium. Avoid application in direct sunlight and ensure there is plenty of water in the soil to make sure the root ball is treated properly. Aim to apply in the evening.
Chafer grub: In accordance with the Garden Chafer life cycle - when the larvae are close to the soil surface and when the soil surface is above 12°C. Typically treat from August to September.
Later applications and the larvae may be too deep to be targeted and soil temperatures too low. Apply to wet ground (irrigate if required and afterwards). Nematodes must pass through the thatch layer and into the soil and need to be kept moist for 2 - 3 weeks. Nematodes are sensitive to sunlight so apply late in the day. Damage prevention will be noted the following spring when most damage is usually seen.
Moths
The Box Tree Moth was first reported in UK gardens in 2011 and is now an established pest across southern England. Our Box Tree Moth Trap Kit consists of 1 easy to assemble trap and 6 pheromone lures.
The box tree moth is a pest across the South of England. The larvae feed on foliage and within days can cause severe levels of defoliation and dieback.
Trapping season - There are two to three generations of moth per season and traps should be in place from mid- March through to October.
Positioning and storage
1. Place traps at a height of 1.5m above the ground.
2. Insert one lure per trap and replace it every 6 weeks throughout the season.
3. Unopened lures should be stored in a cool environment out of direct sunlight.
The box tree moth is a pest across the South of England. The larvae feed on foliage and within days can cause severe levels of defoliation and dieback.
Trapping season - There are two to three generations of moth per season and traps should be in place from mid- March through to October.
Positioning and storage
1. Place traps at a height of 1.5m above the ground.
2. Insert one lure per trap and replace it every 6 weeks throughout the season.
3. Unopened lures should be stored in a cool environment out of direct sunlight.
Spider Mites
Spider mites, also known as two spotted spider mite or Tetranychus urticae, are a common pest of greenhouse plants and crops. The mites suck the contents out of plant cells and produce characteristic leaf damage of white or silvery speckled patches. Almost all greenhouse crops and soft fruit are vulnerable to infestation.
Spider Mites are difficult to see without a microscope, they often live underneath leaves and are only active when it is warm. The best way to find out if your garden has them is to look for the damage rather than the mite. Look out for leaf discoloration; at first the leaves have fine speckling where the cells have died and then a pattern of mottling.
There are two types of friendly predatory mite that can battle spider mites. Choose one of the products below to learn more about which you should enlist to eradicate these pesky plant pirates in your greenhouse.
Options for spider mite control: Anderline AA and Phytoline P.
What is Phytoline P?
Phytoline contains a predatory mite called Phytoseiulus persimilis. It is a well-known predator that eats large numbers of two-spotted mite/spider mites. Phytoline is a standard treatment for these pests and is particularly useful for tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries and ornamentals among others.
How it works:
Both adult and young stages of Phytoline mites will feast on all two-spotted spider mite life stages.
Spider Mites are difficult to see without a microscope, they often live underneath leaves and are only active when it is warm. The best way to find out if your garden has them is to look for the damage rather than the mite. Look out for leaf discoloration; at first the leaves have fine speckling where the cells have died and then a pattern of mottling.
There are two types of friendly predatory mite that can battle spider mites. Choose one of the products below to learn more about which you should enlist to eradicate these pesky plant pirates in your greenhouse.
Options for spider mite control: Anderline AA and Phytoline P.
What is Phytoline P?
Phytoline contains a predatory mite called Phytoseiulus persimilis. It is a well-known predator that eats large numbers of two-spotted mite/spider mites. Phytoline is a standard treatment for these pests and is particularly useful for tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries and ornamentals among others.
How it works:
Both adult and young stages of Phytoline mites will feast on all two-spotted spider mite life stages.
How to use
Phytoline is effective at wide temperature range above 14ºC and can also be used outdoors. If temperatures reach higher than 30ºC, the spider mite growth rate will be larger and quicker than the predator so aim to keep temperature below 30ºC.
There will be less activity at low light levels but that will not affect the process too much. Distribute mites evenly across infested leaves.
What is Anderline AA?
Anderline contains a predatory mite called Amblyseius Andersoni. It feeds on small prey including Spider Mites, Broad Mites, Cyclamen Mite, Carmine Mite, Tomato Russet/Rust Mite and European Red Mite. It will also eat Thrips Larvae and Pollen. Anderline is particularly useful for cucumbers and ornamentals and is best used as a preventative control.
How it works:
The predatory mite preys on eggs, larval and adult stages of a range of mite species. It is able to survive on pollen, fungal spores and plant sap in the absence of prey and hence can be applied preventatively.
Phytoline is effective at wide temperature range above 14ºC and can also be used outdoors. If temperatures reach higher than 30ºC, the spider mite growth rate will be larger and quicker than the predator so aim to keep temperature below 30ºC.
There will be less activity at low light levels but that will not affect the process too much. Distribute mites evenly across infested leaves.
What is Anderline AA?
Anderline contains a predatory mite called Amblyseius Andersoni. It feeds on small prey including Spider Mites, Broad Mites, Cyclamen Mite, Carmine Mite, Tomato Russet/Rust Mite and European Red Mite. It will also eat Thrips Larvae and Pollen. Anderline is particularly useful for cucumbers and ornamentals and is best used as a preventative control.
How it works:
The predatory mite preys on eggs, larval and adult stages of a range of mite species. It is able to survive on pollen, fungal spores and plant sap in the absence of prey and hence can be applied preventatively.
How to use
Anderline is effective at wide temperature range above 6ºC but below 40ºC. Effective at lower temperatures.
There will be less activity at low light levels but that will not affect the process to much.
Distribute mites evenly across leaves infested with spider mite. Make sure you open the shipping box of sachets within the crop. Then you need to separate sachets by tearing along the perforations. Stick one sachet into each propagation tray, pot or shuttle tray and place sachet stick into the plug tray or pot/rockwool cube and have sachet sit approximately 1/8” above the growing media. The mites will emerge for 4 to 8 weeks.
Anderline is effective at wide temperature range above 6ºC but below 40ºC. Effective at lower temperatures.
There will be less activity at low light levels but that will not affect the process to much.
Distribute mites evenly across leaves infested with spider mite. Make sure you open the shipping box of sachets within the crop. Then you need to separate sachets by tearing along the perforations. Stick one sachet into each propagation tray, pot or shuttle tray and place sachet stick into the plug tray or pot/rockwool cube and have sachet sit approximately 1/8” above the growing media. The mites will emerge for 4 to 8 weeks.
Sciarid Fly
Sciarid flies are annoying little pests that you'll notice hopping over the surface of the soil. The adult flies can spread fungal diseases but most of the damage is done by the larvae (young) chomping on plant roots, which makes plants vulnerable to several diseases.
How do you get rid of these troublesome garden trespassers? We've got some tiny garden heroes to come and save the day. There are three main natural methods for sciarid flies, a predatory mite, nematodes and the rove beetle.
The mite and rove beetle crawl into crevices where nematodes can't reach, to feast on the pests. Nematodes are more effective if the sciarid population is high and you're noticing a lot of issues within the soil.
Our friendly little predators are simple to release and effective.
There are three main natural controls for sciarid fly: a predatory mite called Hypoaspis miles, a nematode called Steinernema feltiae and the rove beetle, Atheta coriaria.
The mite and rove beetle can crawl into crevices where nematodes can’t reach, and they are also a good preventative measure as they can survive with little food. Nematodes are more effective if you are dealing with a lot of sciarid flies.
What is Hypoline M?
Hyopline is organic pest control that contains a soil-dwelling predatory mite called Hypoaspis miles. This predatory mite is used for the control of Sciarid fly. They aid in controlling fungus gnat larvae, shorefly larvae and thrips pupae that fall into the growing media/compost. Hypoline can be used on any covered crops.
How it works:
Hyposapsis miles are usually found within the top of the soil, growing media or surface debris. The female will lay their eggs, which will hatch approximately six days later. Once hatched, the larvae will feed actively for 10 days and feed continuously as adults. They are able to survive with low moisture levels, adults are also reported to live for several months and survive up to 50 days without food, making them ideal in situations of very low pest populations. Mites will often move onto plants from growing media to look for prey during dark hours of day/night.
How to apply:
Incorporate mite larvae into growing media during potting or sprinkle onto growing media surface. Rotate tube several times before opening to mix contents. Remove the cap from one end of the tube (either end). Shake the tube slowly to dispense the mixture onto the surface of the soil. Mites will quickly distribute uniformly through the crop.
Exhibitline SF contains the insect pathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae.
Nematodes can be used for the control of scarid fly e.g. fungus gnat larvae and Western Flower thrips on ornamental plants.
How it works:
Exhibitline nematodes swim freely through moist compost (but they can drown if waterlogged), they are attracted to insect larvae and enter the body where a pellet of bacteria is released that kills the pest organism. Exhibitline can control Bradysia spp. and other compost/soil living pests such as larvae/pupae where nematodes can enter the host body. Can also be used as a foliar spray for Western Flower Thrips, leafminer and scale insect control. Best used generally as a curative treatment or programmed application for plants. The best temperature range once released is 12°C to 25°C.
How to use:
Once nematodes have been mixed with water, use them immediately. The effectiveness may be improved by adding a wetting agent and try to apply them in high humidity conditions for foliar applications. Ensure your nozzle is open at least one millimetre. Remove all fine filters (less than one millimetre), including those in the nozzles, from the sprayer. Remove filters in the spray system. For ornamentals undercover, spray onto the soil around plant roots and after growing media application, the treated area should be lightly irrigated from above to wash the nematodes into the growing media. Do not soak the growing media causing the nematodes to wash out of the pots.
Staphyline AC is a pack of adult and larvae Staphylinid beetle.
The beetles are roughly 2-3mm and feed on the larvae and adults of a range of pests. They generally control Scarid and Shore flies. They are generalist feeders, but adults and young stages are particularly good at feeding on the larvae of fungus gnats and shore flies.
How it works:
The Staphyline formulation contains both adults and larvae – for a balanced population. They are a visible predator and adults are mobile which results in good dispersal and establishment. Staphylinid beetles are tolerant of a wide range of temperatures, humidity, light, irrigation and soil conditions which allows them to be a suitable predator year-round in the greenhouse.
How to use:
Rotate the tube several times before opening to mix the contents and push the cut-out on the lid where it is marked to open the tube, rotate lid cover to the fully open position for application. Shake the contents gently onto your soil and any areas where flies are thought to be breeding. Monitor the performance using fresh yellow sticky traps weekly. The decline of catches on the trap will start at 2-6 weeks post-treatment.
Do not use soil incorporated insecticides without confirming safety. Keep in darkness at 10-15°C / 50-59°F until ready to use and use within 18 hours of receipt.
How do you get rid of these troublesome garden trespassers? We've got some tiny garden heroes to come and save the day. There are three main natural methods for sciarid flies, a predatory mite, nematodes and the rove beetle.
The mite and rove beetle crawl into crevices where nematodes can't reach, to feast on the pests. Nematodes are more effective if the sciarid population is high and you're noticing a lot of issues within the soil.
Our friendly little predators are simple to release and effective.
There are three main natural controls for sciarid fly: a predatory mite called Hypoaspis miles, a nematode called Steinernema feltiae and the rove beetle, Atheta coriaria.
The mite and rove beetle can crawl into crevices where nematodes can’t reach, and they are also a good preventative measure as they can survive with little food. Nematodes are more effective if you are dealing with a lot of sciarid flies.
What is Hypoline M?
Hyopline is organic pest control that contains a soil-dwelling predatory mite called Hypoaspis miles. This predatory mite is used for the control of Sciarid fly. They aid in controlling fungus gnat larvae, shorefly larvae and thrips pupae that fall into the growing media/compost. Hypoline can be used on any covered crops.
How it works:
Hyposapsis miles are usually found within the top of the soil, growing media or surface debris. The female will lay their eggs, which will hatch approximately six days later. Once hatched, the larvae will feed actively for 10 days and feed continuously as adults. They are able to survive with low moisture levels, adults are also reported to live for several months and survive up to 50 days without food, making them ideal in situations of very low pest populations. Mites will often move onto plants from growing media to look for prey during dark hours of day/night.
How to apply:
Incorporate mite larvae into growing media during potting or sprinkle onto growing media surface. Rotate tube several times before opening to mix contents. Remove the cap from one end of the tube (either end). Shake the tube slowly to dispense the mixture onto the surface of the soil. Mites will quickly distribute uniformly through the crop.
Exhibitline SF contains the insect pathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae.
Nematodes can be used for the control of scarid fly e.g. fungus gnat larvae and Western Flower thrips on ornamental plants.
How it works:
Exhibitline nematodes swim freely through moist compost (but they can drown if waterlogged), they are attracted to insect larvae and enter the body where a pellet of bacteria is released that kills the pest organism. Exhibitline can control Bradysia spp. and other compost/soil living pests such as larvae/pupae where nematodes can enter the host body. Can also be used as a foliar spray for Western Flower Thrips, leafminer and scale insect control. Best used generally as a curative treatment or programmed application for plants. The best temperature range once released is 12°C to 25°C.
How to use:
Once nematodes have been mixed with water, use them immediately. The effectiveness may be improved by adding a wetting agent and try to apply them in high humidity conditions for foliar applications. Ensure your nozzle is open at least one millimetre. Remove all fine filters (less than one millimetre), including those in the nozzles, from the sprayer. Remove filters in the spray system. For ornamentals undercover, spray onto the soil around plant roots and after growing media application, the treated area should be lightly irrigated from above to wash the nematodes into the growing media. Do not soak the growing media causing the nematodes to wash out of the pots.
Staphyline AC is a pack of adult and larvae Staphylinid beetle.
The beetles are roughly 2-3mm and feed on the larvae and adults of a range of pests. They generally control Scarid and Shore flies. They are generalist feeders, but adults and young stages are particularly good at feeding on the larvae of fungus gnats and shore flies.
How it works:
The Staphyline formulation contains both adults and larvae – for a balanced population. They are a visible predator and adults are mobile which results in good dispersal and establishment. Staphylinid beetles are tolerant of a wide range of temperatures, humidity, light, irrigation and soil conditions which allows them to be a suitable predator year-round in the greenhouse.
How to use:
Rotate the tube several times before opening to mix the contents and push the cut-out on the lid where it is marked to open the tube, rotate lid cover to the fully open position for application. Shake the contents gently onto your soil and any areas where flies are thought to be breeding. Monitor the performance using fresh yellow sticky traps weekly. The decline of catches on the trap will start at 2-6 weeks post-treatment.
Do not use soil incorporated insecticides without confirming safety. Keep in darkness at 10-15°C / 50-59°F until ready to use and use within 18 hours of receipt.
Slugs & Snails
Slugs and snails, need we say more? These meddlesome molluscs are the most common pests found in the garden. Their voracious appetite for young plants, seedlings and whatever else they can get their mouths on causes mass destruction across the garden or allotment. We understand the frustration of seeing your lovingly nurtured young plants chomped within an inch of their life, so, instead of standing in the garden at night with a torch and a sling shot, take a look at our suggestions for keeping slugs and snails at bay.
Have no fear, we have a range of solutions to stop these critters in their tracks. Our range of slug and snail controls cause no threat to children, pets, birds or hedgehogs and will not introduce chemicals to the food chain.
Have no fear, we have a range of solutions to stop these critters in their tracks. Our range of slug and snail controls cause no threat to children, pets, birds or hedgehogs and will not introduce chemicals to the food chain.
Thrips
Thrips are identified by their long, slender bodies and are easily identified by streaks of silvery/white speckles left on leaves. These pesky little pests wreak havoc by piercing the leaf surface and sucking the sap from flowers and leaves, causing extensive damage.
There are two species of thrips are commonly found on greenhouse plants; Western Flower Thrips (WFT) and onion or tobacco thrips. WFT can also transmit Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus on chrysanthemums and many other crops.
So how do you get rid of these thirsty little thrips? We've got some tiny garden superheroes in the form of predatory mites that are ready to save the day. Ambyline contains predatory mites (Amblyseius cucumeris) that feed on young thrips; while Oriline contains a predatory bug called Orius that feasts on adult thrips.
Our friendly little predators are simple to release and incredibly effectivve.
Options for thrip control: Amblyline CU or Oriline L.
What is Amblyline CU?
Ambyline contains predatory mites (Amblyseius cucumeris) that feed on young thrips larvae. These mites will control most thrips species and also control Tarsonemid mite (good for cyclamen and strawberry plants among others) and broad mite. Highly effective as a preventative on peppers, cucumbers, pot and bedding plants, strawberries and cyclamen.
The formulation is designed to increase the number of predatory mites that are released onto the crop each day. It takes 6-9days for the mites to develop. This complements the lifecycle of Western Flower Thrips. The beneficial mites feed on the first larval stage and cannot attack larger larvae or adults.
How to use:
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 material. Open each container in the crop when ready to use. Keep out of direct intense sunlight. Store in a cool, dry place and apply within 18 hours of receipt.
What is Oriline L?
Oriline contains a predatory bug called Orius that is used for the control of thrips and other soft-bodied insects such as aphids. Orius is a standard preventive treatment for thrips, particularly Western Flower Thrips. They often kill far more thrips than they need. Orius is the only biological control agent that kills adult thrips and they can kill up to 80 adult thrips per day! All five Orius nymph stages are also predatory and adults can fly. Considered a generalist predator it will also feed on mites, moth eggs and other pests making this helpful little bug a fantastic friend in the greenhouse and garden!
How to use:
Apply on a cool morning or evening and avoid application in bright sunlight. Open bottle whilst keeping it horizontal to ensure bugs stay well mixed in the carrier. Distribute the contents evenly onto leaves throughout the crop, by gently shaking and rotating the bottle. It takes 4 to 8 weeks to establish an effective population, therefore it is best to make four smaller introductions each week to create populations at various stages. Store in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight. Use within 18 hours of receipt.
There are two species of thrips are commonly found on greenhouse plants; Western Flower Thrips (WFT) and onion or tobacco thrips. WFT can also transmit Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus on chrysanthemums and many other crops.
So how do you get rid of these thirsty little thrips? We've got some tiny garden superheroes in the form of predatory mites that are ready to save the day. Ambyline contains predatory mites (Amblyseius cucumeris) that feed on young thrips; while Oriline contains a predatory bug called Orius that feasts on adult thrips.
Our friendly little predators are simple to release and incredibly effectivve.
Options for thrip control: Amblyline CU or Oriline L.
What is Amblyline CU?
Ambyline contains predatory mites (Amblyseius cucumeris) that feed on young thrips larvae. These mites will control most thrips species and also control Tarsonemid mite (good for cyclamen and strawberry plants among others) and broad mite. Highly effective as a preventative on peppers, cucumbers, pot and bedding plants, strawberries and cyclamen.
The formulation is designed to increase the number of predatory mites that are released onto the crop each day. It takes 6-9days for the mites to develop. This complements the lifecycle of Western Flower Thrips. The beneficial mites feed on the first larval stage and cannot attack larger larvae or adults.
How to use:
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 material. Open each container in the crop when ready to use. Keep out of direct intense sunlight. Store in a cool, dry place and apply within 18 hours of receipt.
What is Oriline L?
Oriline contains a predatory bug called Orius that is used for the control of thrips and other soft-bodied insects such as aphids. Orius is a standard preventive treatment for thrips, particularly Western Flower Thrips. They often kill far more thrips than they need. Orius is the only biological control agent that kills adult thrips and they can kill up to 80 adult thrips per day! All five Orius nymph stages are also predatory and adults can fly. Considered a generalist predator it will also feed on mites, moth eggs and other pests making this helpful little bug a fantastic friend in the greenhouse and garden!
How to use:
Apply on a cool morning or evening and avoid application in bright sunlight. Open bottle whilst keeping it horizontal to ensure bugs stay well mixed in the carrier. Distribute the contents evenly onto leaves throughout the crop, by gently shaking and rotating the bottle. It takes 4 to 8 weeks to establish an effective population, therefore it is best to make four smaller introductions each week to create populations at various stages. Store in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight. Use within 18 hours of receipt.
Vine Weevil
Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) is a major pest in gardens, they enjoy eating ornamental plants and other fruiting plants such as strawberries. Half moon shaped leaf notches around the edge of leaves indicates damage by adult weevils, once you've spotted this, the egg laying begins. While adult vine weevils cause more cosmetic damage, the real damage is done by their hungry little youngsters!
Vine weevil overwinter in the soil as larvae and become active once the soil begins to warm up in spring. Once the larvae are active, they're hungry and looking for plant roots, corms and fleshy stems to eat, which causes extensive damage.
All adults are female and approximately 10mm long. When they're not busy eating, they're laying up to 1000 eggs between June and October, however, this can be longer for plants under protection. It takes several months to reach maturity, resulting in one cycle per year on outdoor crops but multiple generations may occur on heated crops.
So how can you protect your plants from becoming larvae lunch? Simple, with the help of a parasitic soil dwelling superhero, the humble nematode. Once the nematodes have been applied, they get straight to work by entering the natural body openings or penetrating the pest cuticle of the Vine Weevil larvae. Once they get in, they release bacteria which develop within the pest causing it to die of septicaemia.
Options for vine weevil control: Nemasys L & Exhibitline Hb.
What is Nemasys L?
Nemasys is an organic control of the Vine Weevil pest. It should be used to treat the larvae of Vine Weevil. Nemasys is a beneficial Nematode species. They are a microscopic worm-like organism.
The nematode worms seek vine weevil larvae in moist soil and compost. Nematodes enter the weevil larvae and kill the host after a few days. The parasitic worms begin to reproduce, releasing several thousand more juvenile infective nematodes able to find and kill further weevil grubs.
How to use:
Store in a 5ºC fridge for no more than the expiry date specifies and use it when Vine Weevil larvae are present. Apply to plants in moist soil or growing medium. Avoid application in direct sunlight and ensure there is plenty of water in the soil to make sure the root ball is treated properly. Aim to apply in the evening.
What is Exhibitline Hb?
Exhibitline Hb is an organic control for Vine Weevil. It should be used to treat the larvae of Vine Weevil. Exhibitline Hb consists of a beneficial nematode species.
Nematodes are applied through watering and provide fast and effective control of Black Vine Weevil. After Exhibitline Hb has been applied, they will get straight to work by entering the natural body openings or penetrating the pest cuticle of the Vine Weevil larvae. The Nematodes will reproduce inside the body of the Vine Weevil larvae which begins a cycle until the nematodes run out of a host pest.
Exhibitline Hb can treat the following:
•Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
•Strawberry root weevil(Otiorynchus ovatus)
• Chafer grub(Phyllopertha horticola)
How to use:
Use Exhibitline Hb immediately upon receipt or store in a 5ºC fridge for no more than 2 days and use it when Vine Weevil larvae are present. A
Vine weevil overwinter in the soil as larvae and become active once the soil begins to warm up in spring. Once the larvae are active, they're hungry and looking for plant roots, corms and fleshy stems to eat, which causes extensive damage.
All adults are female and approximately 10mm long. When they're not busy eating, they're laying up to 1000 eggs between June and October, however, this can be longer for plants under protection. It takes several months to reach maturity, resulting in one cycle per year on outdoor crops but multiple generations may occur on heated crops.
So how can you protect your plants from becoming larvae lunch? Simple, with the help of a parasitic soil dwelling superhero, the humble nematode. Once the nematodes have been applied, they get straight to work by entering the natural body openings or penetrating the pest cuticle of the Vine Weevil larvae. Once they get in, they release bacteria which develop within the pest causing it to die of septicaemia.
Options for vine weevil control: Nemasys L & Exhibitline Hb.
What is Nemasys L?
Nemasys is an organic control of the Vine Weevil pest. It should be used to treat the larvae of Vine Weevil. Nemasys is a beneficial Nematode species. They are a microscopic worm-like organism.
The nematode worms seek vine weevil larvae in moist soil and compost. Nematodes enter the weevil larvae and kill the host after a few days. The parasitic worms begin to reproduce, releasing several thousand more juvenile infective nematodes able to find and kill further weevil grubs.
How to use:
Store in a 5ºC fridge for no more than the expiry date specifies and use it when Vine Weevil larvae are present. Apply to plants in moist soil or growing medium. Avoid application in direct sunlight and ensure there is plenty of water in the soil to make sure the root ball is treated properly. Aim to apply in the evening.
What is Exhibitline Hb?
Exhibitline Hb is an organic control for Vine Weevil. It should be used to treat the larvae of Vine Weevil. Exhibitline Hb consists of a beneficial nematode species.
Nematodes are applied through watering and provide fast and effective control of Black Vine Weevil. After Exhibitline Hb has been applied, they will get straight to work by entering the natural body openings or penetrating the pest cuticle of the Vine Weevil larvae. The Nematodes will reproduce inside the body of the Vine Weevil larvae which begins a cycle until the nematodes run out of a host pest.
Exhibitline Hb can treat the following:
•Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
•Strawberry root weevil(Otiorynchus ovatus)
• Chafer grub(Phyllopertha horticola)
How to use:
Use Exhibitline Hb immediately upon receipt or store in a 5ºC fridge for no more than 2 days and use it when Vine Weevil larvae are present. A
pply to plants in moist soil or growing medium. Avoid application in direct sunlight and ensure there is plenty of water in the soil to make sure the root ball is treated properly. Aim to apply in the evening.
Whitefly
Whitefly are dastardly garden pests that consume huge amounts, considering their tiny size! They suck the sap from plants and excrete it back onto plants as honeydew, which encourages the production of black sooty mould. Whitefly can also transmit diseases from plant to plant.
The presence of whitefly is indicated by white scales on the underside of the leaves and quite often a white cloud of flies will take to the air if an infested plant is touched. They are commonly found in greenhouses but there is also another species that can be found outdoors on vegetables such as cabbages.
Adults are usually found laying eggs on underside of the youngest leaves. Newly hatched larvae are mobile for a few hours before settling as immobile 'scales' where they suck plant sap like voracious plant vampires.
To stop these sap suckers, we recommend tiny garden helpers in the form of parasitic wasps, these harmless wasps lay their eggs inside the larvae 'scales' and hatch out of the dead whitefly after a period of time. For indoor/greenhouse kept plants, we recommend using sticky insect traps to monitor for the presence of whitefly before moving onto Encarsia cards (parasitic wasps).
Options for vine weevil control: Sticky traps or Encarline F
What are sticky traps?
Sticky Traps are simple! Just hang these around your greenhouse or conservatory and wait for the trap to do the work. You'll need to change these regularly as they can get dirty quite quickly.
How to use:
Hang vertically to trap adult winged aphids, leafhopper and whitefly. Place traps horizontally, sticky side up (i.e flat) to trap adult sciarid (fungus gnats), scutella fly (shorefly), adult leafminer and flea beetles.
Yellow sticky traps will cover the majority of pests in the greenhouse, use blue sticky traps for trapping thrips.
What is Encarline F?
Encarline F is a small card hung on the lower leaves of the affected plant, containing tiny parasitic wasps (which are completely harmless to people) that lay eggs inside the whitefly.
How to use:
Use Encarsia (a small parasitic wasp) as soon as you notice the first Whitefly, the daytime temperature needs to average roughly 10°C.
You will notice on the cards that there are tiny black dots, these are the Encarsia. The cards simply need to be hung on the lower leaves of the plant.
The Encarsia will soon emerge from the cards and lay an egg inside the whitefly during the "scale stage" that will later hatch from the dead whitefly.
Every Encarsia can lay up to 300 eggs inside 300 whitefly scales in 30 days, providing a highly effective treatment.
The presence of whitefly is indicated by white scales on the underside of the leaves and quite often a white cloud of flies will take to the air if an infested plant is touched. They are commonly found in greenhouses but there is also another species that can be found outdoors on vegetables such as cabbages.
Adults are usually found laying eggs on underside of the youngest leaves. Newly hatched larvae are mobile for a few hours before settling as immobile 'scales' where they suck plant sap like voracious plant vampires.
To stop these sap suckers, we recommend tiny garden helpers in the form of parasitic wasps, these harmless wasps lay their eggs inside the larvae 'scales' and hatch out of the dead whitefly after a period of time. For indoor/greenhouse kept plants, we recommend using sticky insect traps to monitor for the presence of whitefly before moving onto Encarsia cards (parasitic wasps).
Options for vine weevil control: Sticky traps or Encarline F
What are sticky traps?
Sticky Traps are simple! Just hang these around your greenhouse or conservatory and wait for the trap to do the work. You'll need to change these regularly as they can get dirty quite quickly.
How to use:
Hang vertically to trap adult winged aphids, leafhopper and whitefly. Place traps horizontally, sticky side up (i.e flat) to trap adult sciarid (fungus gnats), scutella fly (shorefly), adult leafminer and flea beetles.
Yellow sticky traps will cover the majority of pests in the greenhouse, use blue sticky traps for trapping thrips.
What is Encarline F?
Encarline F is a small card hung on the lower leaves of the affected plant, containing tiny parasitic wasps (which are completely harmless to people) that lay eggs inside the whitefly.
How to use:
Use Encarsia (a small parasitic wasp) as soon as you notice the first Whitefly, the daytime temperature needs to average roughly 10°C.
You will notice on the cards that there are tiny black dots, these are the Encarsia. The cards simply need to be hung on the lower leaves of the plant.
The Encarsia will soon emerge from the cards and lay an egg inside the whitefly during the "scale stage" that will later hatch from the dead whitefly.
Every Encarsia can lay up to 300 eggs inside 300 whitefly scales in 30 days, providing a highly effective treatment.
Leatherjackets
Leatherjackets are cranefly larvae and they can do immense damage to lawns and occasionally also to small plants. Burrowing under the ground, they eat roots and produce bare and yellowing patches of grass.
Exhibitline SF contains the insect pathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae which kills the larvae, forming by far the most effective protection against these devastating underground wrigglers.
Exhibitline SF contains the insect pathogenic nematode, Steinernema feltiae which kills the larvae, forming by far the most effective protection against these devastating underground wrigglers.
How it works
Exhibitline nematodes swim freely through moist compost (but they can drown if waterlogged), they are attracted to insect larvae and enter the body where a pellet of bacteria is released that kills the pest organism. Exhibitline can control Bradysia spp. and other compost / soil living pests such as larvae / pupae where nematodes can enter the host body. Can also be used as a foliar spray for Western Flower Thrips, leafminer and scale insect control. Best used Generally as a curative treatment or programmed application for plants. The best temperature range once released is 12°C to 25°C.
How to use
Once nematodes have been mixed with water, use them immediately. The effectiveness may be improved by adding a wetting agent and try to apply them in high humidity conditions for foliar applications. Ensure your nozzle is open at least one millimetre. Remove all fine filters (less than one millimetre), including those in the nozzles, from the sprayer. Remove filters in spray system. For ornamentals under cover, spray onto soil around plant roots and after growing media application, the treated area should be lightly irrigated from above to wash the nematodes into the growing media. Do not soak the growing media causing the nematodes to wash out of the pots.
Exhibitline nematodes swim freely through moist compost (but they can drown if waterlogged), they are attracted to insect larvae and enter the body where a pellet of bacteria is released that kills the pest organism. Exhibitline can control Bradysia spp. and other compost / soil living pests such as larvae / pupae where nematodes can enter the host body. Can also be used as a foliar spray for Western Flower Thrips, leafminer and scale insect control. Best used Generally as a curative treatment or programmed application for plants. The best temperature range once released is 12°C to 25°C.
How to use
Once nematodes have been mixed with water, use them immediately. The effectiveness may be improved by adding a wetting agent and try to apply them in high humidity conditions for foliar applications. Ensure your nozzle is open at least one millimetre. Remove all fine filters (less than one millimetre), including those in the nozzles, from the sprayer. Remove filters in spray system. For ornamentals under cover, spray onto soil around plant roots and after growing media application, the treated area should be lightly irrigated from above to wash the nematodes into the growing media. Do not soak the growing media causing the nematodes to wash out of the pots.
Available in two pack sizes, 6 or 50 million.
Advice & support
Our friendly team are more than happy to talk you through the best pest control solutions for your garden or allotment. If you have any questions or would like to get in touch, please click below.GET IN TOUCH
Tags: Natural Pest Control, organic pest control
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