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Lacewing larvae - Chrysoperla carnea


Size

What Are Aphids & How Do I Identify Them?

Aphid is a name for a large group of insects, many of which can cause serious damage to plants. They extract sap from plants causing a reduction in plant growth, reduced yields, and sometimes defoliation. Aphids can also secrete toxic substances into the plants. The Aphids take proteins from the sap and then excrete the excess sugar left in the sap back onto plants. This causes a sticky mess on the leaves, which black molds often grow on.

Aphids are soft bodied and often shed white skins onto leaves. Adult Aphids can be green, yellow, pink, black, grey or brown.

What Are Lacewing Larvae & How Can They Help?

Chrysoperla carnea is the Latin name for the species of Lacewing used for the biological control of Aphids. The larvae of these Lacewing are highly effective predators of Aphids (also known as Greenfly & Blackfly). One Lacewing larvae can consume up to 200 aphids. Our Lacewing larvae are at the 2nd instar stage and will be effective predators for your infestations.

Once the Lacewings have developed into adulthood they will no longer feed on the Aphids but will instead serve as useful pollinators for your garden. Lacewing larvae will also feed on Leafhoppers, Glasshouse Thrips (Greenhouse Thrips / Black Tea Thrips), Clover Mites & more insect pests.

Where Should I Use Lacewing larvae?

Lacewing larvae can be used to treat plants both inside and outside, in a variety of environments permitting they match the temperature conditions required by the larvae.

What Conditions Do The Lacewing Larvae Require?

Apply Lacewings only when temperatures are above 15℃. Activity will increase with higher temperatures.

When Should I Use Lacewing Larvae?

For indoor use of Lacewing larvae they should be released from March to September.

For outdoor use of Lacewing larvae they should be released from May to September.

How Do I Apply Lacewing larvae?

The larvae are supplied in a buckwheat husk carrier material, with some food. This prevents the larvae from feeding on each other while in transit.

The best way to apply your Lacewing larvae is to apply them directly onto Aphid colonies. Lacewing larvae are easy to apply to low growing crops or plants with wide leaves and can be poured from the shaker bottle directly onto the Aphids.

If applying to high growing crops or plants, use our Distribution Boxes. These little boxes can be filled with Lacewing larvae and carrier material directly from the applicator bottle. They can then be hung onto stems or leaves of your plants. The larvae will then emerge out of the applicator boxes onto the plants. 

Full instructions will be provided on delivery.

How Many Lacewing Larvae Do I Need?

Apply the Lacewing larvae at around 10-30 per square metre. Apply higher quantities onto areas of plants suffering from higher infestations of Aphids.

Once the larvae develop into adults they do not feed on Aphids, so repeat applications of larvae may be required for new or larger infestations.

Chemical Pesticides

Lacewing larvae are living creatures and can be affected by any chemical pesticides used within the previous few weeks. As a general guide, refrain from using Natural Pyrethrum or SB Plant Invigorator 2 days prior to use. Other chemical insecticides can have long lasting residues that could harm the Lacewing larvae and other predators for much longer periods. Refrain from using these products or check with Dragonfli for information on the effect of these products on our predators.

Customer Reviews

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Customer Reviews

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M
Marie

Had an issue with delivery but Dragonfli resolved it satisfactorily and quickly.

M
Maggie
They are eating my pahids

2 weeks after putting them out in the garden i can see lacewings on top of the aphid infection on roses and gooseberries. Happy to say that there is lots of them and hopefully they will eat through majority of the aphid population quickly. Thank you!

M
Mark
Cleared Up My Bioactive Vivarium

Had a severe infestation of Greenfly in my Vivarium causing stunted & deformed new growth, sap ridden leaves and generally sad looking plants. Becuase of not only my Chameleon but my cleanup crew consisting of Isopods and Springtails I had very limited options available to safely get on top of this ever increasing problem.
At first I was a little sceptical that these would actually work, but decided to take the plunge and buy some anyway, so glad that I did, it's been just under a week now and already I can't see any live Greenfly anywhere and believe me I've looked high and low. Not only that and probably more amazingly is that the plants have already started to spring back to life and are forming rapid new (non-deformed) growth. Also, probably due the Lacewing Larvae size my Chameleon didnt seem interested in eating any of them. Would definitely recommend these to anyone in a similar situation! Nature at it finest!

R
RobertThomas
5 Star

No complaints here. They have done their job.

G
GregoryStaunton
Works well

Quick and clever treatment