Macrolophus pygmaeus

Macrolophus pygmaeus for pest control

Macrolophus pygmaeus is a key predatory bug for biological pest control of whitefly, Tuta absoluta and spide mites. This beneficial insect has been widely employed in integrated pest management (IPM) programs in tomato. Macrolophus pygmaeus adults are small, slender predatory bugs with distinctive black markings, while the nymphs are pale green with red eyes. Both adults and nymphs are voracious predators, capable of feeding on various pest species. With its effectiveness in pest control and minimal impact on non-target organisms, the natural enemy Macrolophus pygmaeus offers growers a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for managing insect pest populations.

The predatory bug Macrolophus pygmaeus is used for the control of the following pests:

Macrolophus pygmaeus products

Mirical Mirical-N
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How to use Macrolophus pygmaeus

Introduce Mirical at the beginning of the growing season and provide Entofood and/or Artefeed as food source, as the predatory bug population needs time to establish and develop. Mirical can also survive on plant sap, however absence of animal prey slows down the population build-up significantly.

The dosage of Mirical/Mirical-N depends on climate, crop and expected pest density and should always be adjusted to the particular situation. For Mirical: Start introduction preventively. Introduction rates typically range from 0.25-5 per m2/release. Releases should be repeated after 2 weeks. For Mirical-N: Introduction rates typically range from 10-50 per m2/release. Releases should be repeated al least two times.

Consult a Koppert advisor or a recognized distributor of Koppert products for advice on the best strategy for your situation.

  • Cardboard tray

    Cardboard tray

    • Open package carefully inside the greenhouse.
    • Distribute the content of one package over 10 introduction points by hanging 1 cardboard strip per plant and, at the end, shake out any remaining M. pygmaeus from the tray into the crop.
    • Hang the cardboard strips over the stalk of a fully-grown leaf at the top of the plant.
    • The Macrolophus will climb out of the cardboard strips and spread through the crop.

  • Bottle

    Bottle

    • Sprinkle material on clean, dry rock wool slabs, in Diboxes or on leaves. Make sure the material is not disturbed for at least a few hours
    • Introduce in clusters of at least 50 predatory bugs
    • Create 6-10 distribution points per bottle
    • Spread material thinly (maximum 1 cm thick) to enable the predatory bugs to get out of the carrier material.

Best conditions for use of Macrolophus pygmaeus

Optimal temperatures for Mirical are above 20°C/68°F, lower temperatures slow down the development of Macrolophus pygmaeus significantly.

Feeding behaviour of Macrolophus pygmaeus

Although Macrolophus pygmaeus prefers to feed on whiteflies, it also eats aphids, spider mites, moth eggs and small caterpillars, as well as the larvae of leaf miners. When the bug is present in a crop in large numbers, it can contribute substantially to the control of these pests. Although plant sap is necessary for Macrolophus pygmaeus to develop well, it is insufficient for full development of a population. When females are only able to feed on plant sap, they lay far fewer eggs and the nymphs (if similarly deprived of living prey) will die. Consumption of plant sap, however, can cause damage to crops such as certain varieties of tomato, and gerbera. Conditions that promote the onset of such problems include a shortage of prey, a high population of bugs (more than 100-150 per plant), and a weak crop. More delicate types of tomato are more susceptible to damage. In tomato there may be fruit deformations during setting, and in gerbera, misshapen flowers may appear. The use of this bug in gerbera is therefore not recommended, and care should be taken in cherry tomato crops.

Life cycle of Macrolophus pygmaeus

The life cycle of Macrolophus pygmaeus consists of an egg stage, five nymphal instars and the adult insect. Adult females are 3.0-3.6 mm long and the males between 2.9-3.1 mm. They are slender with long legs and antennae. The bugs are green except for occasional small black markings: the first antennal segment is black, and a black stripe runs behind the eyes. The first part of the forewings is a transparent, soft green with a small black spot in the middle. The hind part is colourless with a vague brown marking. Macrolophus pygmaeus has large brown, hemispherical compound eyes that are clearly visible on the sides of the head. The bug has piercing-sucking mouthparts. Females have a large, rounded abdomen within which the ovipositor is visible. Males are somewhat smaller than females and have a thin abdomen.

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