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Orius for Thrips Control (Generalist Predator)
Orius is a small predatory bug that predates on a wide variety of prey, including thrips, aphids, whiteflies, mites (incl. spider mites), mealybugs, psyllids and the eggs of larger insects such as butterflies and moths. PRICE: $35.00 per 500 Adults (minimum order) plus GST and Freight
Beneficial Invertebrates
Orius is closely related to several species that have been used with great success for the control of thrips, particularly in glasshouse grown capsicums. This species is a voracious predator in the laboratory, its use in the field however is still experimental.
Same week delivery is not guaranteed as products are subject to availability. If unsure, please contact Bioforce directly, although be assured that we always aim to deliver as promptly as possible.
Products will only be sent on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and will not be sent on public holidays. Orders placed after 1pm on Wednesday will likely be sent the following week. Please contact Bioforce directly by phone if immediate delivery is required, and we will endeavour to accommodate you. As these products are live organisms, it is important that they arrive quickly to their destination, and we do not send when it is possible they will be in transit over a weekend. Next day delivery is not guaranteed and customers should follow up with CourierPost using the tracking information provided on dispatch.
Bioforce will contact the purchaser advising you of the intended sending date, but only if products will not be shipped within the week of purchase. Please do not purchase the product online if you are unsure, however if the product has been purchased and you are unhappy with the delivery date, we will happily refund you the full amount. Please contact us immediately to complete this, as there will be no refunds once the goods have been sent.
Orius works best when the day length is long, such as in mid to late Spring, Summer and early Autumn. Feeding and breeding may slow down significantly over winter.
Adults and juveniles are voracious predators, feeding on thrips of all life stages, from eggs to adults, although later stages of Orius catch and manipulate adult thrips more easily.
Orius are sold as voracious 2nd instar nymphs. Nymphal stages are wingless, meaning that they are unable to fly away, allowing them time to become accustomed to your crop. Adults will seek out suitable host plants and prey, and may leave the crop if they find it unsuitable.
Orius will also feed on other insects and mites (such as spider mites) within the crop, and can sustain itself on pollen when available. Orius eats very little at temperatures below 16⁰C.
Orius undergoes an egg stage and 5 nymphal stages before becoming an adult. Development time from egg to adult takes 16-18 days at 25⁰C, and longer at lower temperatures.
Under favourable conditions, Orius can lay up to 400 eggs over the course of 10-70 days, depending on environmental conditions and the availability of food. Eggs are laid in floral peduncles (the stem of the flower) or on leaf veins, but this may depend on the host plant.
- 1 Orius per m2 as a PREVENTIVE action, released twice over a two week interval
- 10 Orius per m2 for CURATIVE action, released in to areas of thrips infestation
Because thrips breed very quickly, while Orius doesn't, it is recommended that Orius is released at the first sign of thrips damage in a preventative manner, allowing Orius to establish and breed on the crop prior to thrips build up.
Orius is best suited to crops that are producing pollen as an alternative food source, and will establish more readily. Repeat applications of Orius may be necessary to establish them on crops without available pollen.
Orius is best suited to temperatures between 20°C and 30°C, and sustained temperatures over 30°C may reduce the effectiveness of this predator.
- Release Orius as quickly as possible on to the crop
- Gentle rotate the tube to ensure an even mix of Orius within the buckwheat husk media
- Remove lid and sprinkle the media on to hortizontal leaves, preferably so that it remains there, although Orius will move off the soil and on to the plant if necessary
- Apply evenly to the infested crop. If thrips are located in hotspots, concentrate the Orius release to those areas. Leave the tube in the crop to allow any remaining Orius to leave at their own pace.
- DO NOT REFRIGERATE
- If necessary, store Orius in a cool, dry place at 10-15⁰C if possible, out of direct sunlight before release.
