{"product_id":"mealybug-predator-larvae-cryptolaemus-montrouzieri-sachets","title":"NEW: Mealybug Predator Larvae - Cryptolaemus montrouzieri (Sachets)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e*Brand new product! Pre-order now. First dispatches due from the 3rd June*\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat Are Mealybugs?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMealybugs are a serious pest of many plants and crops, especially\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eornamental crops\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eand\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eplant collections\u003c\/strong\u003e. They get their name because female Mealybugs are covered in a white waxy material. Underneath this layer, they are often pink or yellow. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMealybugs are sapsuckers and will extract large amounts of sap from plants, which causes\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003estunted growth\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eyellowing of leaves\u003c\/strong\u003e. They also produce large amounts of honeydew and leave large residues on plants. This residue will then grow\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003emold\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand is very unsightly. Mealybug damage can also\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ereduce photosynthesis\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ein leaves leading to\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ereduced flowering\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eless yield\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efor fruiting plants. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat Are Cryptolaemus Montrouzieri Larvae \u0026amp; How Can They Help?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus montrouzieri\u003c\/em\u003e Ladybird larvae are prolific killers of Mealybugs. Native to Australia, these little predators are highly regarded throughout the world for their effective natural control of Mealybugs on cacti, succulents and many other greenhouse plants. The l\u003cspan\u003earvae will feed excessively on Mealybugs until they pupate into the adult \u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus\u003c\/em\u003e around 21 days after application. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe initial advantage of using the \u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus montrouzieri\u003c\/em\u003e larvae is the sheer number of Mealybugs that will be consumed. The larvae also roughly \u003cstrong\u003estay situated in the same area\u003c\/strong\u003e as to where they were released. This makes direct applications onto infestations straightforward.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBoth \u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus montrouzieri\u003c\/em\u003e larvae, and \u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus montrouzieri\u003c\/em\u003e adults will feed on Mealybugs\u003c\/strong\u003e, which ensures you will benefit from having the Ladybirds on your plants for multiple stages of their life cycle. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Mealybug predator larvae will seek out prey in greenhouses and conservatories and \u003cstrong\u003efeed on all stages of the Mealybug life cycle\u003c\/strong\u003e; including the eggs, larvae and adults. If Mealybugs are not available to prey on, the \u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus\u003c\/em\u003e will also feed on \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dragonfli.co.uk\/collections\/scale-insects\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScale Insects\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e at a lower consumption rate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen Should I Apply Cryptolaemus Larvae?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUse these predators as soon as Mealybug infestations are observed. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus\u003c\/em\u003e larvae will then help to control these outbreaks by consuming large numbers of the  pests.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhere Should I Apply Cryptolaemus Larvae?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus montrouzieri\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003elarvae are best suited for use in \u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003egreenhouses, conservatories \u003c\/strong\u003eor in\u003cstrong\u003e other heated areas\u003c\/strong\u003e. The predators are not suited for use outdoors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow Do I Apply The Cryptolaemus Larvae?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSimply open the sachet and lodge it in foliage for the Cryptolaemus larvae to emerge naturally. If, after a few hours, some larvae are left inside, gently tip them out onto the infested plants. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus montrouzieri \u003c\/em\u003elarvae can also be applied using our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dragonfli.co.uk\/products\/distribution-boxes?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=7e415c7bf\u0026amp;_ss=r\" title=\"distribution boxes\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eDragonfli Distribution Boxes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, which will be more effective for larger plants. Distribute the sachet contents into your boxes and hang them on the stems or leaves of your plants. The predators will then proceed to exit the boxes and move around the plants looking for food.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFull application instructions will be provided on delivery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat Conditions Do The Cryptolaemus Larvae Require?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eare generally only used in heated environments in the UK. They require a temperature of at least\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e16℃\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eto begin feeding on Mealybug. Optimum control is found between\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e20-25℃\u003c\/strong\u003e, with high levels of light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow Many Cryptolaemus Larvae Do I Need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach sachet contains approximately 30 \u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus \u003c\/em\u003elarvae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe advise applying the\u003cspan\u003e larvae\u003c\/span\u003e at the following rate:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn treating a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003elight-medium \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einfestation -\u003cspan\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e1 sachet of larvae\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e per medium-large sized plant. Larger standard plants may require more than one sachet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn treating a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eheavy\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003einfestation –\u003cspan\u003e \u003cb\u003eextra sachets maybe required to build up Cryptolaemus larvae numbers\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRepeat applications may be required for the heavy infestations. Add more larvae every 2 weeks until clear populations of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecan be observed, and have established on the plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen Will I Need To Replace The Predators?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProviding the conditions are suitable, and there are adequate levels of prey, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003elarvae will feed for around 3 weeks before developing into adults. The \u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus \u003c\/em\u003eadults themselves have a life cycle of around 25 days, during which time they will also breed and produce a further generation of larvae. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor more information on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dragonfli.co.uk\/collections\/mealybug\/products\/mealybug-predator-adults-cryptolaemus-montrouzieri\" title=\"crypto adults\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus montrouzieri\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003eadults see our product listing here.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eChemical Pesticides\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus montrouzieri\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ei\u003cspan\u003es 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\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cem\u003eCryptolaemus montrouzieri\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand 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.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Dragonfli","offers":[{"title":"1","offer_id":58168361615741,"sku":"DFGC-1388","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"2","offer_id":58168361648509,"sku":"DFGC-1158","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"3","offer_id":58168361681277,"sku":"DFGC-1157","price":38.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"5","offer_id":58168361714045,"sku":"DFGC-2016","price":59.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0034\/3716\/6659\/files\/Cyrptolarvae.png?v=1778747799","url":"https:\/\/dragonfli.co.uk\/products\/mealybug-predator-larvae-cryptolaemus-montrouzieri-sachets","provider":"Dragonfli","version":"1.0","type":"link"}