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Lacewing larvae - Chrysoperla carnea


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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

Based on 5 reviews Write a review

Customer Reviews

Based on 20 reviews
65%
(13)
20%
(4)
5%
(1)
5%
(1)
5%
(1)
A
Amy Rose
Not as many as advertised l

I think I had 100 at most. They are doing there job but severely overpriced for at most 100 bugs. Will go back to my old supplier.

M
Marc Naven
Good at reducing aphid numbers

They were shipped within the expected time frame, but the courier left them on the doorstep in literal freezing cold weather. I was sent a replacement pack and they've so far reduced aphid numbers on my indoor plants pretty well.

S
Sue Blackman
Lethal lacewings

I had a really bad, established thrip infestation.
I was advised to use these, along with Amblyseius swirskii, which have done a good job, in tackling them, although, l had to use another round of the lacewing, as it was so bad.
I checked yesterday and only found a few left.
You can contact them directly, via their website, as they can give you expert advice on how to tackle or avoid any infestations, you may have.
Can highly recommend this company.

K
Keeley

Good product does the job

M
Mark

Half of them were dead… after complaining about the timescale on the delivery they assured me they would send them
Same day business delivery… well that was a lie and I have it all in writing…. AVOID THIS COMPANY AT ALL COSTS

Hi Mark,

Thanks for getting in touch and sorry to hear that you were disappointed with your order on this occasion.

We do not offer a same day business delivery service , so perhaps you may be confusing us with an alternate supplier? This is also the first we have heard from you with regards to your order.

We do offer an 'Arrive Alive Guarantee' whereby customers that receive live product impaired by significant casualties in transit will be re-imbursed or have their order replaced. If you feel this to have been the case with your order please contact our customer service team and they will look into this for you.

I would also like to add that Lacewing larvae are nocturnal predators so it can be tricky to first identify them. Indeed the larvae are so small (approximately 75% smaller than a ladybird larvae!) that they are difficult to spot and are the same colour as the buckwheat they are transported in.

Kind regards,

Julian Ives [Director, Dragonfli]