The predator
Lacewing
Chrysoperla externa, the insect SABIO rears on your farm.
The green lacewing is a common insect in Brazilian crops, with green, transparent wings. The species SABIO rears, Chrysoperla externa, is the same one used in the lacewing-based biologicals registered with the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture.
The larva is what eats the pest.
For 10 to 14 days, the larva hunts aphids, whiteflies, psyllids, caterpillar eggs and other small soft-bodied insects. The adult feeds on nectar and pollen and lays the eggs of the next cycle. That is why flowers near the crop help keep the population up.
The cycle
- Egg 3 to 5 days
- Larva 10 to 14 days predatory stage
- Pupa 7 to 10 days
- Adult 2 to 3 weeks
Where it works
| Crop | Pests the larva controls |
|---|---|
| Coffee | Coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeella) |
| Citrus | Asian citrus psyllid (vector of citrus greening), aphids and mealybug |
| Vegetables and tomato | Whitefly and aphids |
| Corn | Corn leafhopper and fall armyworm eggs |
| Cotton | Whitefly and aphids |
| Eucalyptus | Red gum lerp psyllid (Glycaspis brimblecombei) |
How it is released
- The eggs are released in the field at the start of the infestation, while the pest is still low.
- The release is spread over several points per hectare, so the larvae reach the whole area.
- Broad-spectrum insecticides, such as pyrethroids, organophosphates and neonicotinoids, kill the larvae. Plan the spray calendar with our team.
- With SABIO, you gather the eggs on the farm and the system tells you when each release is due.
Sources: Embrapa (2020) and labels of Chrysoperla externa biologicals registered with MAPA (Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture).
