Orius insidiosus for Thrips Control

Orius insidiosus

Locally Produced in Ontario, Canada

Target Pests

Thrips

Most Growers want to prevent production losses from thrips outbreaks, while staying within budget.

But the problem is cold storage and long-distance transit harms the fuctionality of predatory insects reared outside of North America... and when biocontrols fail, pests take over.

At Crop Defenders, we know how frustrating that can be. You deserve high quality predatory insects that deliver the results you need. That's why we locally produce Orius insidiosus adults & nymphs in Ontario, Canada and provide expedited shipping or direct delivery to Growers across Canada and the United States.

Packaging Options

Adults

2,000
1,000

Nymphs

2,000
1,000

Carrier Material Options

Buckwheat hulls with vermiculite
Buckwheat hulls (vermiculite free)

Physical Description

Eggs: The eggs of Orius insidiosus are 0.4 mm (0.02 inches) long. Adult females deposit eggs within plant tissue.
Nymphs: Orius insidiosus nymphs are less than 3 mm (0.1 inches) in length, wingless and teardrop-shaped. They range from yellow-orange to brown in color. The first instar is slightly yellow and later instars become progressively darker in color.
Adults: Orius insidiosus adults are approximately 3 mm (0.1 inches) long. They are oval and black with white wing patches. The wings extend beyond the abdomen. Adults have a long proboscis used for sucking plant juices and consuming prey.

Life Cycle

Orius insidiosus has multiple generations per year, and will diapause in the fall or when there is less than 12 hours of sunlight. Under certain conditions, Orius insidiosus can be established on suitable banker plants under supplemental lighting.

Eggs are laid in plant tissues, and hatch in 4-10 days depending on the climate.
Nymphs develop through 5 instars over 14-21 days, until they molt to the adult stage.
Adults live for approximately 3 to 4 weeks. Adult females lay 2 eggs per day, with an average of 30 eggs in their life time.

Mode of Action

Orius insidiosus adults and nymphs pierce thrips larvae and adults with their sucking mouthparts, and suck out the contents. Orius insidiosus sucks out the body contents of its prey leaving only the empty skin. Adults are voracious predators and exhibit efficient searching behaviour. They congregate in areas of high prey density.

Target Pests

Thrips Adults & Larvae including:

Western Flower Thrips Frankliniella occidentalis
Pepper Thrips Thrips parvispinus
Onion Thrips Thrips tabaci
Impatiens Thrips Echinothrips americanus

Rates

Schedule a Call with our Technical Consultants for guidance on rates and strategies tailored to your crops and needs.

Ideal Greenhouse Conditions

Orius insidiosus is most effective at temperatures 15°C (59°F) and relative humidity levels above 60%, and when the photoperiod exceeds 12 hours of light.

Application

Gently rotate the bottle before opening to evenly distribute the Orius insidiosus adults or nymphs inside. Spread the contents on foliage, or in application boxes.
Apply in groups of at least 50 Orius insidiosus to encourage mating and establishment.
Ensure the applied contents remain undisturbed for a few hours after application.