Encarsia formosa for Whitefly Control

Encarsia formosa

Locally Packaged in Ontario, Canada

Target Pests

Whitefly

Most Growers want to prevent production losses from whitefly infestations, while staying within budget.

But the problem is that when whitefly populations surge, however sourcing Encarsia formosa from unreliable suppliers or dealing with delayed shipments can disrupt control strategies, leading to costly infestations.

At Crop Defenders, we understand how frustrating that is. That's why we locally package Encarsia formosa in Ontario, Canada with expedited shipping or direct delivery to Growers across Canada and the United States.

Packaging Options

Card Options

100 Cards (100 mummies/card)
100 Cards (50 mummies/card)

Loose Options

15,000

Carrier Material Options

No carrier
Corn grit (loose)

Physical Description

Encarsia formosa adults are 0.6 mm (0.02 inches) long, with a black head and thorax, and a yellow abdomen.

Eggs are 0.1 mm (0.004 inches) in size, oval-shaped, and translucent white.
Larvae are 0.2–0.4 mm (0.01–0.02 inches) in length, pale yellow, and develop inside whitefly nymphs, eventually turning them into dark brown or black mummies.

Life Cycle

Encarsia formosa completes its life cycle within 18–28 days at 25°C (77°F).

Eggs hatch in approximately 2–5 days, after being laid inside whitefly nymphs.
The larval stage lasts about 7–10 days, during which the developing parasitoid feeds on the whitefly nymph from within.
Parasitized whitefly nymphs turn yellow before darkening to brown or black, with pupation lasting 7–14 days.
Adults can live for up to 10–15 days, and adult females can lay up to 200 eggs throughout their lifespan.

Mode of Action

Encarsia formosa targets whitefly nymphs by laying eggs inside them, using the host as a food source for developing larvae. As the larvae grow, they consume the whitefly from within, eventually turning the nymph into a hardened, darkened mummy before emerging as an adult wasp. Beyond parasitism, adult females also contribute to whitefly control by piercing nymphs and feeding on their bodily fluids, further reducing populations.

Target Pests

Whitefly Larvae including:

Greenhouse Whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum
Silverleaf Whitefly Bemisia tabaci

Rates

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

Ideal Greenhouse Conditions

Encarsia formosa is most effective at temperatures between 20-25°C (68-77°F) and 60-80% relative humidity.

Application

Bend and tear off the strips opposite to the mounting hole, without touching the mummies during handling
Suspend the cards in the crop, and avoid hanging cards in places which are exposed to direct sunlight