The problem:
There are numerous species of aphids (commonly called greenfly or blackfly) which feed on a wide range of plants both indoors and outside. Where they are mostly a problem in warmer months on outdoor fruit, vegetable and ornamental plants they can be a problem year round in warm protected indoor environments. A well known pest insect species, aphids tend to be found living in small groups on the under side of leaves or at the soft growing points of plants. Greenfly and balckfly feed on plant sap, weakening the plant and leaving sticky residues around the plant which can attract ants and also result in black mould developing. Aphid feeding can also result in blotchy colour development, deformed growth and curling of leaves.
The product:
Aphidius colemani are very small parasitic wasps which kill aphids. Able to fly from the blister they are released from, they move between plants hunting aphids. When they locate an aphid they will lay an egg within the pest aphid. After hatching as the young aphid develops within the aphid it eats and kills the aphid. Once it has completed its young juvenile stages it will emerge from the dead aphid ready to hunt more aphids to lay its eggs within. After releasing the Mightybugs you can watch and follow there performance, whilst you are unlikely to see the tiny black waps again you can watch your plants as the aphid turn into grey mummies after the developing Aphidius has killed them and then with the help of a hand lens see the emergency holoes from the mummies as the next generation of MightyBug aphid killers emerge to continue protecting your plants from aphids.
How to use:
MightyBug Aphidius colemani arrive in small clear-fronted blisters. Follow the instructions to pierce the card back of the blister to allow the MightyBugs to escape and hang from one of the plants you wish to protect. The Aphidius MightyBugs will finish their development and emerge over the coming days and disperse from the blister into the plants you are wanting to protect. They can fly, and therefore can move between plants. For best results release the beneficial predators during the cooler morning or evening rather than peak heat of the day and hang the blister out of dirst sunlight so that they do not overheat.