Overrun by Aphids? You Don’t Have Time to ID 4,000 Species.
This mix handles it for you.
Instead of gambling on one parasitoid or trying to identify aphids under a loupe, this three-wasp combo covers a wide range of species and sizes—from melon aphids to potato aphids to rose aphids. Whether you're growing indoors or out, this is your aphid treatment plan in a bottle.
Aphid Parasitoid Wasp Mix
Biological Control for Green Peach, Foxglove, Melon, Potato, and Other Common Aphids
This curated blend includes:
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Aphidius colemani – Targets smaller aphids like green peach, melon, and cotton aphids
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Aphidius ervi – Handles larger species like foxglove, potato, and tobacco aphids
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Aphelinus abdominalis – The long-term generalist; slower to establish but longer lived and persistent
Together, they offer early knockdown and longer-term suppression—without needing to know which aphid species you're dealing with.
How They Work (And Why It’s Effective)
These are parasitoids, not predators. They don’t eat aphids outright—they inject eggs into them.
| Stage | Activity |
|---|---|
| Days 0–2 | Adults locate and sting aphids |
| Days 2–5 | Eggs hatch and larvae feed internally |
| Day 5+ | Aphids swell and turn tan or black (mummification) |
| Day 7–10 | New wasps emerge from mummies and restart the cycle |
You’ll see aphid mummies before live aphids disappear. That’s how parasitoids work: quiet, cumulative, and lethal.
What It Treats
| Aphid Type | Example Hosts |
|---|---|
| Green peach aphids | Peppers, ornamentals, leafy greens |
| Melon aphids | Monstera, cucurbits, citrus |
| Cotton aphids | Ornamentals, vegetables, cannabis |
| Foxglove aphids | Houseplants, bedding plants |
| Potato aphids | Tomatoes, peppers, solanaceous crops |
| Rose aphids | Roses, viburnums, perennial ornamentals |
| Unknown aphid infestations | Mixed setups, greenhouses, display cabinets |
When to Use
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You see aphids forming colonies on stems or undersides of leaves
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You’re dealing with multiple aphid species
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You’ve used ladybugs or lacewings but the aphids returned
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You want control that works indoors, outdoors, or in protected environments
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You want biological control without sprays
How to Apply
| Step | Instruction |
|---|---|
| Release Rate | 1–5 mummies per 10 sq. ft., weekly for 2–3 weeks |
| Timing | Best used at the first sign of aphids |
| Application | Gently shake the bottle near infested plants, or use a soft brush to distribute |
| Placement | Even distribution near pest zones—do not dump in one spot |
| Ideal Conditions | 65–77°F for optimal function (but range is 50–86°F) |
Storage:
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Adults: Use immediately
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Pupae: Store up to 48 hours at 39–46°F if needed
Where This Mix Performs Best
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Indoor setups: greenhouses, grow tents, cabinets, living walls
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Outdoor gardens: raised beds, fruit trees, ornamentals
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Mixed aphid infestations: when ID is uncertain or multiple species are present
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High-value crops: where pesticide use is restricted or undesirable
How You’ll Know It’s Working
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You start seeing aphid mummies—bloated, tan or black husks on the plant
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Aphid populations stop increasing, even if some are still visible
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You spot tiny wasps hovering near infested zones
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New plant growth appears with less distortion or sticky residue
Results take 5–10 days to show visibly, but the suppression keeps compounding over time.
Safe for Everything But the Aphids
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No sprays, no residue, no chemical drift
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Zero re-entry interval
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Won’t harm pollinators, predatory mites, pets, or people
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Fully IPM-compatible and organically approved
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Works across both edible and ornamental plants
FAQ
How does the Live Guarantee work?
We know how important it is for your mites to arrive healthy and ready to work. That’s why we offer a live arrival guarantee—with flexible options depending on when we hear from you:
- Let us know within 24 hours of delivery: We’ll gladly send a free replacement shipment.
- Let us know within 2–3 days of delivery: We can offer store credit to make things right.
- After 3 days from delivery: Because these are living organisms, we’re not able to offer replacements or credit beyond that window. By then, it’s harder to know what went wrong or whether shipping conditions were a factor.
We truly want your mites to succeed—so please open your package as soon as it arrives and check on them. If something doesn’t look right, don’t wait—reach out and we’ll take care of you.
Where are you located?
We have a number of different locations in NJ, Maine and Oregon. While we'd love to have you, we are not currently open to the public.
Can I call you?
We get it. Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone, and on a case by case basis we can try to figure it out. Unfortunately though, we're really not able to take calls—FGMN is a small nursery, and we're usually elbows-deep in plants or packing boxes. To make sure nothing gets missed (and everyone gets a timely reply), we keep all communication in writing.
Feel free to message us at info@fgmnnursery.com. We mostly respond quickly, but every once in awhile replies may take a day. Do follow-up if you don't hear in that time. We're human, we miss an email here or there.
Too Many Options?
We get it. Try our mite/insect matchmaking quiz and instantly get matched to the solutions you may need.
Our Live Delivery Guarantee
We stand behind every leaf and every mite. If your plant or predatory insects don’t arrive alive on the first delivery attempt, we’ll make it right.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Email us at info@fgmnnursery.com within 24 hours of delivery
- Include clear photos of the item and the shipping label
- Someone must be available to receive the package—plants and bugs don’t do well sitting in the sun, a mailbox, or the back of a delivery truck
For plants, we offer store credit if something goes wrong.
For predatory mites and beneficial insects, you’ll have the choice of a replacement shipment or store credit.
If you contact us after the 24-hour window, we may still be able to help—just know it’s handled case by case.
We pack with care, insulate when needed, and check the weather before shipping. But once it’s in transit, the fastest way to protect your order is to open it right away.
Mite Matters
Thrips Don’t Stand a Chance (If You Start Here)
Thrips are tiny, annoying, and almost impressively destructive. This article takes a closer look at Orius insidiosus—the predator that hunts adult thrips—and explains how to use it as part of a long-term control strategy.
How to Treat Thrips on Plants the Right Way
Thrips may be tiny, but their impact is anything but small. These slender insects scrape open plant cells and drain them dry, leaving silvery scars, curled leaves, and sometimes even viruses in their wake. Because their life cycle spans both leaf and soil, single treatments rarely work. Instead, managing thrips requires a layered approach: mechanical suppression, targeted sprays, and—most effectively—beneficial predators that disrupt every stage of their development.
