TT Minute Pirate Bug - Orius Insidiosus - 200 52596

Orius insidiosus, the minute pirate bug, controls all life stages of thrips. It establishes best in pollen-rich crops. Under short days it may slow down or pause until conditions improve.

Adults are black and white and about 3 mm long. They fly well and hunt pests at every life stage. Females live about 4 weeks as adults and can lay up to 45 eggs near pest colonies. Eggs hatch in 5 to 7 days. The full life span is about 7 weeks, with 2 weeks as nymphs and 4 weeks as adults. They are most active in the light and can complete a life cycle in about a month when conditions are favorable. In winter or low light, weekly releases of adults keep them hunting. This bottle contains 200 adults.

Target pests

Thrips at every life stage, spider mites, moth eggs, aphids, and other soft-bodied pests.

Temperature

50–94°F

Release rate

About 1 insect per 10 square feet, or 2,000–4,000 per acre. Rates change with the pest, the crop, and how heavy the infestation is. Check both the pests and the Orius after release.

Storage

Release them as soon as they arrive. If you must hold them, store at 45–55°F for no longer than 24 hours.

• Identify the pest and release beneficial insects early.
• Pesticides, wetting agents, and spreader-stickers can harm them. Broad-spectrum and systemic insecticides are toxic.
• For thrips, Orius is often used with Amblyseius cucumeris and Amblyseius swirskii for larvae, Hypoaspis miles in the soil, and Dalotia coriaria.