Encarsia formosa – Natural Whitefly Control Solution
Encarsia formosa – Natural Whitefly Control Solution
Loose parasitized scales for large-area greenhouse whitefly releases
When you need to cover a large greenhouse or grow room quickly, hanging individual cards gets tedious. The Encarsia formosa bottle delivers loose parasitized whitefly scales you can distribute across a big area in one pass. This parasitic wasp lays its eggs inside whitefly nymphs and is the proven standard for greenhouse whitefly. Choose the bottle when you want fast, wide coverage rather than plant-by-plant card placement.
Live insects ship on Tuesdays only and arrive Wednesday. Orders must be placed 7 days in advance. Anything ordered by 3pm EST Tuesday ships the following Tuesday by UPS overnight shipping.
- Hanging cards plant by plant is slow in a big space
- Sprays scatter whitefly and miss larvae
- Whitefly rebuild quickly after spraying
- Chemicals leave residue and re-entry waits
- Broad products harm other beneficials
- Coverage ends when spraying ends
- Loose scales distribute across a large area fast
- Wasps parasitize whitefly nymphs where they feed
- Parasitized scales die and produce more wasps
- No residue and no re-entry interval
- Selective wasp spares your other biocontrol
- Wasps reproduce on site for ongoing control
Fast, wide distribution Large-area format
The bottle holds loose parasitized scales you can scatter across a big greenhouse or room in one pass, which is far quicker than clipping cards onto every plant.
The greenhouse whitefly standard
Encarsia formosa is the proven, widely used parasitoid for greenhouse whitefly, making it a dependable backbone for large-scale whitefly programs.
Kills the hidden nymphs
Females lay eggs inside whitefly nymphs on the leaf undersides. The larvae feed within and kill the host, ending it at the stage sprays rarely reach.
Builds its own numbers
New wasps emerge from parasitized scales, so a repeated bottle program develops a self-renewing population across the canopy.
Year-round in protected spaces
It performs well between 68 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit at moderate humidity and can be used year-round in greenhouses and indoor rooms.
No plant stress
Unlike oils and soaps that can mark tender foliage, the wasps work with zero effect on the plants themselves.
Distribute the loose scales evenly across the crop for fast, large-area cover.
Start preventively or at first whitefly; typical rate 1-10 per m².
Repeat until controlled; switch to Eretmocerus or the mix if it runs hot.
Keep sticky traps away from the release so they don't catch the wasps.
How the Encarsia bottle clears whitefly
Distribute the scales
Sprinkle the loose parasitized scales evenly across the crop, spreading them through the canopy over the whole area.
Wasps emerge from the scales
Adult Encarsia hatch from the parasitized scales and disperse to the leaf undersides where whitefly live.
They parasitize the nymphs
Females lay eggs inside whitefly nymphs, which darken and die instead of maturing into adults.
Population renews itself
New wasps emerge from parasitized scales, so a repeated program keeps whitefly suppressed across the season.
- Live Encarsia formosa as loose parasitized scales
- Count matched to your chosen size
- Distribution and release instructions
- Insulated overnight packaging
- Format: loose scales for large-area coverage
- Prefer cards? Encarsia formosa is also offered on hang cards
- Silverleaf whitefly too? add Eretmocerus or use the mix cards
Questions? We're easy to reach.
Happy Hydro has been serving growers since 2006. Call or email us before you order, after you order, or any time something comes up. When you're happy, we're happy.