Stethorus Punctillum

Stethorus Punctillum

Target pest - Two Spot Spider Mite

Stethorus punctillum, is a spider mite predator in the lady beetle family. Adults are tiny and oval shaped, 1.5mm (1/10 in.) long, dark brown to black in color, with brownish-yellow antennae, mouthparts and legs. Eggs are yellowish ovals, laid singly in or near mite colonies. Adult beetles can fly, and have an unusually good ability to find small infestations of spider mites.

For best results release Stethorus with spider mite predators such as fallacis and persimilis. Optimum conditions are moderate to high temperatures of 67-90°degrees.

Stethorus will survive lower temperateres but will not fly at below 55 degrees.

Female beetles lay 3-13 eggs per day. Over their long life span, up to 2 years, females can lay over 1,000 eggs. Females must eat 20-40 spider mites per day to initiate and sustain egg laying. Larvae feed for 10-14 days, and a single larva can consume 240 spider mites as it develops from egg to adult. Older larvae migrate down the plant to pupate. Pupae are often found along leaf veins on the undersides of leaves. Adults emerge from pupae in 6-7 days. Both larvae and adult beetles feed on all stages of mites. Adults can eat over 50 mite eggs or 10 adult mites per day. If food is scarce, they will also feed on other small arthropod eggs, aphids, nectar and pollen, and will even cannibalize their own species. 

Ships FedEx Overnight Tuesdays. 
Orders must be called in Friday 2PM PST for shipping the following week. 
Subject to stock on hand.