natural enemies Icerya

RODOLIA

Rodolia cardinalis Coccinellid predator against cottony cushion scale
product: 10 or 25 adult beetles in a tube
Storage: No longer than 2 days at 10-15ºC

Appearance: The adults of Rodolia are small red coloured ladybirds, 2-4 mm in length. The amount of black and red differs among the adults. 
The eggs of Rodolia are red coloured. Most of them are laid on or under the egg masses of the cottony cushion scale. The eggs of Rodolia closely resemble those of their prey, Icerya purchasi. 
Rodolia has four larval stages. These are red coloured as well.  Pupae are black and red coloured; new born ladybirds hatch by tearing the pupal skin apart.

Effect/Activity: Rodolia is a specialist natural enemy of Icerya purchasi. Other pests are not eaten. The adults of Rodolia as well as the older larvae eat all stages of their prey, the smaller larvae of Rodolia eat only the eggs.

Conditions: Rodolia can be used whenever temperature is more than 18ºC. It is effective at low as well as high humidity levels. Eggs are only being laid when egg masses of the prey are present.

Biology: At 25ºC the development from egg to adult takes about a month. A Rodolia female lays her eggs on or under the egg masses of the cottony cushion scale. During her life-span she can lay 150-200 eggs.

Application: RODOLIA CARDINALIS can be used in zoo's, interior landscapes, botanical gardens, research greenhouses as well as outdoors in (sub) tropical regions.