Amblyseius Andersoni is primarily used to prevent a spider mite infestation (especially in houseplants) or as an out of season control rather than as a solution for a bad infestation. It's an excellent product for catching the spider mites as they come out of hibernation in the early spring.
The sachets contain a breeding colony of mites that crawl out slowly over a period of 4-6 weeks stopping an infestation from taking hold. If you already have spider mites in large numbers please use Phytoseiulus first.
These predatory mites are widely used in commercial glasshouses to control unwanted plant pests. Amblyseius Andersoni is used to treat different species of Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus spp. and Panonychus spp.) Fuchsia Gall Mites, Pear Blister Mites, Rust Mites, Boxus Mite and Thrips, it can tolerate a wide range of high and low temperatures 6°C to 40°C, making it a great early season control.
Further information
How much do I need?
When to use
How to use
Amblyseius spp. are difficult to spot with the naked eye, and to tell apart even with the benefit of a microscope. The colour of the mites vary according to what they have been feeding upon. Amblyseius are suitable for indoor houseplant collections, glasshouses and conservatories, as well as outside from late February. They can feed on pollen and spores when there isn't enough live prey for them to survive on, this makes them an effective preventative measure. Amblyseius Andersoni is not as voracious as the spider mite killer, Phytoseiulus, but it has the advantage that it can survive even when there is not much active spider mite around and is much less sensitive to temperature. It is also effective on a wider range of spider mite species.
You can buy these beneficial mites either loose in a tub (protected by bran) or as a pack of slow-release sachets which you can place or hang among the plants. The method of application that is more suitable for you depends on the plants to be protected.
For a small number of plants with large leaves you may prefer to use the shaker tub because you can locate the predatory mites directly on the leaves of the plants to be protected.
However for a large area, for plants with small leaves and for large collections of plants, the sachets may be more practical. We would suggest using 1 sachet per metre square or 1 per plant.
Use this product from very low temperatures upwards, they are active from 6°C! They will feed on pollen and spores in the absence of prey or before the spider mites come out of hibernation. If you suffered with spider mite last season then introduce the sachets before you first spotted the damage last year.
The sachets are very low maintenance, simply fold them with the print on the outside and balance them on the branches or prop them against the plant. The shaker is equally easy to use, both come with instructions that are easy to follow.