“Sphaerophoria rueppellii will go searching actively and fly long distances to detect even incipient colonies of aphid,” explains Yann Jacques, Biobest product manager for Macrobials. “Sphaerophoria-System adds a preventative dimension and complements our existing aphid parasitoid and predator range.”
Commonly known as hoverfly, Sphaerophoria rueppellii is native to Europe and Mediterranean countries and predates on several key aphid species including Macrosiphum euphorbiae. This predator can also survive while feeding on whitefly, thrips and spider mites.
The development has been focused on sweet pepper, but Sphaerophoria-System is poised to also improve aphid control in a range of other vegetable, fruit and ornamental crops.
Biology
Adult hoverflies feed on pollen and nectar while the larvae are voracious predators of the main aphid species. Adult females lay oval shaped grey-white eggs, up to 20 a day and 400 in total, in aphid colonies. These hatch into green larvae, voraciously feeding on aphids. During the larval stage, lasting 9 days at 25°C, a single S. rueppellii can consume up to 200 aphids.
“Complementary to aphid parasitoids, the S. rueppellii larvae work synergistically avoiding aphids already parasitized,” says Yann. “Not easily observed, as they are mainly active at night, the larvae are very active in cleaning up aphid colonies located at the tops of sweet pepper plants.”
Well adapted to sweet pepper crops
Sphaerophoria rueppellii is active between 12-40°C, with an optimal range of 25-35°C, although activity may reduce in autumn as daylight decreases. While adults can tolerate drought conditions, the larvae need sufficient humidity to thrive. Sphaerophoria rueppellii can complete its entire lifecycle in a sweet pepper crop without additional flowering plants.
User-friendly
Sphaerophoria-System is easy to release. The 125ml Sphaerophoria-System bottle is user friendly. Open and place it inside a Biobox. Hang the Biobox in the plant avoiding direct exposure to sunlight. The recommended rate is one to four release points per hectare.
Biobest’s commercial introduction of Sphaerophoria-System is the result of a collaboration with BioNostrum, a spin-off company from the University of Alicante.
For more information
Biobest Belgium NV
Ilse Velden 18
2260 Westerlo - Belgium
T +32 14 25 79 80
F +32 14 25 79 82