Although these predatory mites consume their prey at a more leisurely pace than do their friends Mesoseiulus longipesand Phytoseiulus persimilis--one adult or a few eggs per day--they can survive longer under starvation conditions.
N. californicus need a minimum of 60% humidity and like temperatures 60-85 degrees F.
Origin: California
Host Mites: Spider mite, Broad mite
Host Plants: Ornamentals, Roses, Grapes, Strawberries, Corn.
This predator has five life stages; egg, larva, protonymph, deutonymph and adult. Their rate of increase is dependent on the temperature. It completes a generation in 4 to 12 days depending on the average temperature (12 days at 64øF, 4 days at 90øF). It lays about 3 eggs per day for 2 weeks and it lives about 20 days. At 77øF the female N. californicus can consume 5.3 Spider mites eggs/day. It feeds on a variety of pest mites including the Twospotted Mite (tetranychus urticae) Pacific mite and the Cyclamen mite.
Pesticides: N. californicus tolerates many pesticides. However, avoid using any pesticide one week prior and one week after release of predators.
Release rates: 4 mites/sq. ft, bi-weekly, 2-3 times; 5,000-20,000/acre, bi-weekly, 2-3 times. Works great in gardens, greenhouses, strawberries, ornamentals and roses.
Storage: N. californicus can be held in cold storage (50øF) for 7 days or more.
