The Dusky Ladybird also known as Scymnus loewii is a small predatory ladybird. It is primarily an aphid predator, however it will also predate on a wide variety of alternative prey, including psyllid and whitefly eggs, mites, and the eggs of larger insects such as butterflies and moths. The Dusky Ladybird appears to survive well in glasshouse grown capsicums when feeding on the peach aphid, and colonises cucumber as well. The use of this species is still experimental, and there are no guarantees that they will colonise your crop or eat a particular aphid species. They are known predators of aphids from the genera Myzus and Aphis. Ladybirds will not colonise tomato crops. Product Information The Dusky Ladybird is a small predatory ladybird , adults are 3-4 mm in length. The ladybirds are sold as eggs on sack material. The eggs are yellow and very small, they are difficult to see with the naked eye. Eggs hatch approximately 2-3 days after dispatch, and juvenile stages will begin searching for aphid prey almost immediately, although they will not be noticeable for at least one week or more depending on temperatures. The larvae mimic mealybugs, so do not expect to see adult ladybirds for several weeks. The Dusky Ladybird undergoes an egg stage and 4 larval stages before pupating and emerging as an adult. Development time from egg to adult takes around three weeks at 25⁰C, and longer at lower temperatures. Eggs are tiny and laid singly on the woodier parts of the plant.Adults and juveniles are aphid predators, feeding on aphids of all life stages, from juveniles to adults. Larvae paralise aphids and suck their body fluids out, generally through a leg or antenna. Both adults and larvae predate on the tomato/potato psyllid on capsicum and peppers, both eggs and juveniles.Ladybirds are reared in a insectary, they are not collected from the wild as is practised in other parts of the world. Release and Storage Instructions The eggs are laid on to small pieces of cloth, which is attached to a cardboard tag Hang the tag (with the cloth and eggs) on to the plants out of direct sunlight, preferably on the same day as having received them Place in areas with high aphid or pest numbers Leave the petri dish and lid at the base of a plant Store in a cool place if need be, out of direct sunlight. Preferably between 8 and 15 degrees DO NOT REFRIGERATE Delivery Information: Fresh Living Products Please note that our products are living items and are specially ordered to ensure maximum freshness. Orders placed before 9 AM on Monday will be delivered within the same week, but depending on when your order is placed, it may be scheduled for delivery the following week due to courier schedules and weekend delays. Rural Deliveries: Please be aware that our products may not be suitable for rural locations due to the longer delivery times, which could affect freshness. Return & Refund Policy: As these are living products, they are non-returnable and non-refundable. We recommend double-checking your order details to ensure you're satisfied before completing your purchase. We appreciate your understanding and are committed to delivering the highest quality products to your door!
