Trichogramma are supplied as pupae developing in grain moth eggs. The loose eggs look like ground pepper.

The pupae are either loaded into 'capsules' or supplied as loose trichogramma pupae which can be applied in various ways.

Capsules are sold by the sheet of 60 capsules. Loose eggs are sold by the gram (50,000+ eggs per gram)

The wasps emerge via tiny escape holes about 4 days after despatch from the insectory.

Capsules are placed in a grid fashion through the crop when moths are laying eggs.

In sweet corn, place the capsules in the whorl.

In tomatoes, staple the capsule to a leaf or post.

In melons, place them on the plastic under the foliage or staple to a leaf.

In cotton and soybeans best results are obtained by stapling the capsule to a leaf. But for speed of application over larger areas they can be dropped on the ground under the plants, preferably in the shade.

Trichogramma pupae can be supplied loose.

There are about 50,000 per gram and it looks like a pile of ground black pepper.

Loose trichogramma pupae in aqueous solution

They are applied in water with a polyacrylate thickener added. The thickener keeps the pupae in suspension with minimal agitation.

The mixture can then be dosed onto foliage. A dosing device that is soft on the pupae is necessary.

Mechanical Dosers

For larger areas the dosing process can be mechanised.

The units illustrated enable up to 50 hectares to be treated from one mix of 25 litres in 2 hours.

The doser can be adapted for a quiktach linkage or can be mounted onto a boom spray so that trichs can be applied while spraying a "safe" product like NPV or Bt.

This method of application is fast and is suited for larger areas but needs to be better timed than the capsules for best results.

27 litre tank and 12v DC motor driven soap pump. Suitable for mounting onto a four wheeler or tractor.

The devices enable Trichogramma to be distributed at the same time as scuffling or while spraying "soft" products like Dipel®, Gemstar®, Steward/Avatar®, Prodigee®.

More on mechanical applicators

Aerial application of loose pupae has begun in North Queensland in sweet corn. The loose eggs are mixed with semolina at a ratio of 1:10. One litre of the mixture is enough to cover 50 ha.

The bottle is screwed into a delivery line in the cockpit and manually controlled via the valve.

More to come on this exciting development.

We see this as an efficient way to cover larger areas in cotton, soybeans and sweet corn.

A version of this device will be trialled next season in sweet corn in the Griffith NSW area.