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Fuchsia Gall Mite Killer - Amblyseius andersoni


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What Are Fuchsia Gall Mites & How Do I Identify Them?

The Fuchsia Gall Mite (Aculops fuchsiae) is microscopic at 0.25mm long and will feed by sucking the sap from Fuchsias. The mites secrete the chemicals required by the plant, which prevents normal development of flowers and leaves. This causes the Fuchsias distortion, abnormal growth and extensive galling. Fuchsia Gall Mite activity will be apparent when the Fuchsia shoot tips consist of distorted tissue, or a mass of reddish-pink or yellowish-green, as opposed to the leaves or flower buds you would expect. Though the mite cannot be identified without a microscope, activity will be clear from such galled tissues.

What Are Amblyseius Andersoni Mites & How Can They Help?

Fuchsia Gall Mite Killer contains the predatory mites; Amblyseius andersoni. The andersoni feed on the Fuchsia Gall Mite and a range of other pests. See them listed below:

Where Should I Apply Andersoni?

We advise using Amblyseius andersoni against Fuchsia Gall Mite on indoor and outdoor plants. The andersoni also feed on pollen and this means that they can be applied before, or soon after, the Fuchsia Gall Mite is first observed. This can aid earlier control of Fuchsia Gall Mite populations and reduce risk of sustained pest damage by combating the Fuchsia Gall Mite early in its life cycle.

If protecting plants from Fuchsia Gall Mite indoors, results can also be found with our Amblyseius californicus sachets.

What Conditions Do The Andersoni Require?

Amblyseius andersoni can survive at temperatures ranging from 6-40. They are active from 12-14.cThis enables the introduction of these predators in a variety of environments, earlier in the year, and in lower temperature environments than required by Phytoseiulus persimilis predators, for example.

How Many Andersoni Do I Need?

We recommend the following application rate:

- One small bottle will cover approximately two large fuchsias

How Do I Apply The Andersoni?

It is recommended that you mist your Fuchsias first, as this will help the carrier material stick to the leaves and flowers, which aids better distribution of the predatory mites.

The Fuchsia Gall Mite Killer is supplied in shaker bottles (the largest unit contains 25,000 predators), so you can apply the predators by rotating the bottle and gently shaking the contents directly onto the infested leaves and growing points of the plants. Ensure the andersoni are released directly onto the Fuchsia plant, ideally in hot spot areas which have shown evidence of Fuchsia Gall Mite activity. 

Amblyseius andersoni can also be applied using our Dragonfli Distribution Boxes, which will be more effective for larger Fuchsias. Distribute the shaker bottle contents into your boxes and hang them on the stems or leaves of your plants. The boxes act as small breeding sites for the predators and they will then proceed to exit the boxes and move around the plants looking for food, such as the Fuchsia Gall Mite, Whitefly eggs or the Red Spider Mite.

Repeat applications may be required to maintain andersoni populations or if the Fuchsia Gall Mite numbers were high when the predators were first applied.

Full application instructions are provided on delivery.

When Should I Apply The Andersoni?

The Fuchsia Gall Mite can survive quite low temperatures, as they can hide and overwinter in flower buds. If treating Fuchsias grown in a greenhouse, apply the Fuchsia Gall Mite Killer from the spring (or earlier if treating in heated greenhouses).

The Fuchsia Gall Mite is very difficult to identify with the human eye, and difficult to control in high numbers, therefore it is important to apply early. Repeat applications should be applied in the summer, ideally once a month.

Can I Store Andersoni Mites?

We advise using andersoni straight away upon delivery. This ensures best results as the mites will be fresh.

Chemical Pesticides

Amblyseius andersoni is a living creature 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 andersoni and other predatory mites for much longer periods. Refrain from using these products or check with Dragonfli for information on the effect of these products on the predatory mites.

Allergy Information 

Just as you can be allergic to cats, pollen, and dust mites, it is also possible to be allergic to the natural substances in predatory mites, feeder mites, and supplementary feeding products. If you are not allergic, but come into close and prolonged contact with certain substances, you could still develop an allergy.

Click here for advice on on the precautionary measures you can take to prevent or reduce any allergic reactions caused by the type of products mentioned above.

Customer Reviews

Based on 8 reviews
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s
spw
Possibly Successful

It would seem there is healthy new leaf growth on some of the fuchsias but with the cold weather we have been experiencing the growth is yet small and it is difficult to tell. Also some of the plants were so badly infected, I had to cut them almost back to the ground and there wasn't much leaf left upon which to use the product. At least one plant needs cutting back almost daily.
I sprinkled ALL my fuchsias, not just the obviously infected ones and those with a larger leaf seem to have escaped the gall-mites anyway.
I am keeping my fingers very tightly crossed. . . This is the second year of a very heavy infestation on some of the fuchsias and I may well have to invest in the predators early next Spring. In the meantime I am taking cuttings of the uninfected plants. Your sachets or boxes in the Spring, maybe.

R
Roger Jackson
About the same - now much improved

I have updated this review after communications with Dragonfli.
My Fuchsia plants are outdoors, initially I was a bit disappointed but after communications with dragonfli I followed the recommendation to try the sachets of andersoni I also dusted the plants again. These have made a big improvement after about a week, with new leaves all being good and the flowers opening properly.
Thanks to Dragonfli for taking the time to help

R
Rosie

Jury's still out on whether this has worked or not. I cut off all the gall mite infected growth, and the new growth is mostly healthy but I still have to cut off infected shoots every day. I can't tell yet whether this treatment has managed to get on top of the infestation.

Hi Rosie,

Thanks for your feedback and for ordering with us.

The scale of your infestation may be so severe that the predator numbers cannot match & overwhelm the pest. It would be best to supplement your predators to ensure there is ample armoury available to contain the pest and prevent re-establishment. It's important to break the life cycle of the Gall Mite & while these bottles release a plentiful supply of amblyseius andersoni predators immediately onto the plant, acting as a necessary curative remedy to damaged Fuchsias, we approximate that they're active for 2 weeks from application.

To ensure the andersoni remain active on your Fuchsias for longer periods it is worth also considering our Amblyseius andersoni sachets which slowly release the predators for a period of 4 weeks. The sachets act as an insurance against re-emerging or lingering Gall Mites.

I hope this helps but if you need any further advice please let us know.

Kind regards,

Julian Ives [Director, Dragonfli]

L
Linda Larkin
More advice needed

I removed many of the curled leaves on the fuchsia plants, which had the gall mites before adding the Andersoni The Andersoni seems to have worked on some fuchsias but other plants still have the Andersoni on the leaves but the disease is starting to appear again Will I have to continually put Andersoni on the plants or will the Gall mites eventually be eliminated.

Hi Linda,

Many thanks for your feedback and for ordering with us.

Glad to hear that you have seen some success in the treatment of your Fuchsias with the use of our Amblyseius andersoni predatory mites.
In order to prevent a re-emergence of the Fuchsia Gall Mite infestation it would be best to ensure that there is a continuous presence of the andersoni mites on the Fuchsias you wish to protect.

These bottles of andersoni will release a large quantity of predators immediately onto the plants which will help combat severe infestations and offer more immediate resolutions. For small-scale infestations, and as a useful preventative measure, it is advisable to hang some of our sachets of andersoni mites from the Fuchsias. One per plant you wish to protect should suffice. These sachets release the predators more gradually than the bottles, providing a sustained treatment for your plants for up to 4 weeks.

This should help you to combat any re-emerging or new infestations, but for larger infestations (evidenced by severe damage symptoms on the plants) it would still be best to switch back to using bottles of the predators.

I hope this helps and makes sense. It is all about ensuring a continual presence of the predators on the plants for the periods in which any Gall Mites are present. With consistent application of the predators, the pests should indeed eventually be eliminated. It is of course then to your own discretion should you wish to reinvest in, and retain, active andersoni sachets to hang from your plants as an insurance against any Gall Mites that may be lured to your Fuchsias.

If you ever need any further advice please just let us know and we'd be more than happy to help.

Kind regards,
Julian Ives [Director, Dragonfli]

E
Elsie Jay
Thank goodness a solution!

Having lost 20 fuschias last year I applied the Gall Mite Killer as soon as I saw the first attack and it appears to have halted their onslaught! Fingers crossed.