The predator Atheta - System is playing a lead part in preventative and therapeutic control strategies for thrips , sciarid tent-fly ( fungus gnat ) and shore fly ball in glasshouse - grown decorative crops in France .
With a voracious appetite , this flyspeck good rove beetle has become part of multi - pronged strategies to control these problem pests in crops include cyclamen , rosebush , genus Gerbera and geranium .
Multi - pronged approach“In respect to thripid - such as WFT ( Frankliniella occidentalis ) - Swirskii - System and Amblyseius - System are well established biologicals for keep in line pest larva on the aerial parts of the plant , ” explains Biobest biologicals consultant , Paul Tremellat . “ For fungus gnat and shore fly control , as well as for the command of thrips pupae , Hypoaspis - System and the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema - System are widely used to control these pests in the substrate .
“ Atheta - System is a valuable plus to these strategies as it is further improving the efficiency of control . Ideally used preventatively , it is also play a worthful role in alterative treatments when deployed at a higher rate . By targeting pest pupae on , or below , the substrate surface Atheta - System helps to break the lifecycle . ”
Preventative is best“To optimise thripid and sciarid vanish control it is good to take a preventive approach , ” explain Paul , who has significant experience working with cosmetic growers in the South of France . “ bulge out too soon in the growing season help the vulture progress up , giving high-pitched floor of ascendence later on on when pest pressure increase . ”
Unlike some predatory animal , Atheta - System knead well over a wide temperature range , 10 to 35 ° C . Usually released from March onwards , the beetle can be effectively deployed prior to planting and , if necessary , as early on as December ( temperature permitting ) . Even if grownup pests have not yet emerged from the soil , Atheta will get to bring see pupae carry over from last time of year .
Three discharge strategiesDepending on factor including the craw stage and pest severity , Biobest recommend one of three introductory programmes .
“ Employing Atheta - System in summation to existing control strategies we are seeing good resultant role for thripid , sciarid fly and shore fly control in potted glasshouse - grown ornamental crops , ” says Paul . “ This highly effective predator is play a full of life office help to break the pest lifecycle and hence quit , or importantly slow down down , infestations . ”
Atheta - System is best released betimes in the morning , or late in the daytime , as it prefers a humidity of 50 - 80 % .
Atheta – what to calculate forAtheta can be used on all substrate including grease , peat - base , peat - free , coir and rockwool .
Just 2 - 3 mm in length , the adult beetle are dark browned to bright black in colouring and are covered in hairs . The three larval phase , happen in the soil , alter from whitened to orange / brown in colour and all course voraciously on pest pupa find underground .
At 25 ° deoxycytidine monophosphate , the lifecycle admit three weeks from egg to adult . While thrip and sciarid adults can be monitored with Bug - Scan down sticky trap , scouting for this nocturnal predator is best carry out at nighttime . Nevertheless , Atheta can still be seen creep on the substratum during the day .
