Eretmocerus hayati
Overview
Eretmocerus hayati is a small parasitic wasp that attacks Silverleaf Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) in vegetables, cotton, melons, grain legume, brassica and ornamental crops.
E. hayati are minute wasps about 0.5mm-1mm long and are a bright yellow colour. They can be used on all crops where Silverleaf Whitefly is present.
Silverleaf Whitefly can reproduce and feed to varying degrees on more than 600 plant species and has been migrating further south into Victoria and southwest Western Australia. Vegetable crops such as tomato, eggplants, squash, brassicas, zucchini, lettuce and beans are very good hosts of this pest. Many ornamentals including poinsettia, hibiscus, chrysanthemum, begonia, fuchsia, roses and gerbera are affected. Other widely grown field crops like melons, cotton and grain legumes are also common hosts of Silverleaf Whitefly.
E. hayati has the highest reported biological control potential of Silverleaf Whitefly and has established well in the tropical and subtropical agricultural growing regions of Australia.
Pests Eretmocerus hayati can help you control
You can use Eretmocerus hayati to control Silverleaf Whitefly in your vegetable, cotton, melon, grain legume, and ornamental crops.
How Eretmocerus hayati controls pests among crops
Female Eretmocerus hayati wasps lay their eggs under the whitefly nymphs. The larvae hatch from eggs and then penetrate the nymph bodies. The wasp larvae consume the whitefly nymph from the inside and then pupate inside the whitefly body. When the adult wasp is ready to emerge, it chews a circular hole in the nymphal case to escape.
Unlike Encarsia which turns the Greenhouse Whitefly body black, eretmocerus species turn the whitefly body a light yellow colour.
Non-parasitised whitefly nymphs are an important source of nutrients for the adult female and host feeding contributes to whitefly control.
How you can order Eretmocerus hayati
You can order Eretmocerus hayati from Biological Services as 2500 pupae/vial.
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