Provisional Advice
As of the first week of February, set out at least 4000 slow-release bags of A. swirskii per hectare. At this time of year, the level of whitefly infestation is generally low but ready to flare up. Experience has taught us that an explosion in the whitefly population can be expected once the temperature starts to rise (generally in March). You should therefore set out a further 4000 slow-release bags of A. swirskii five weeks after the first introduction. The second introduction of slow-release bags should be hung up between the slow-release of the first introduction in order to ensure the good distribution of the predatory mite in the crop. Depending on the ratio between whitefly on the one hand and predatory mites and parasitic wasps on the other, the decision needs to be taken on whether repeat introductions of slow-release bags are necessary.
Set out 4000 A. swirskii slow-release bags among the young plants one week after the application of Conserve. In all cases, A. swirskii should be combined with the release of Eretmocerus eremicus.
The combination of the predatory mite A. swirskii, which predominantly targets the eggs and crawlers (first larva stage) of the whitefly, and the parasitic wasps, which concentrate on the second, third and fourth larva stages of the whitefly, is effective because the two elements complement each other well.