Encarsia formosa

Type

Parasitoid wasp

Target pests

• Whitefly

Best use

Classic greenhouse whitefly parasitoid.

Notes

Needs steady introductions and good monitoring.

IPM positioning

Preventative whitefly parasitoid; most effective under stable greenhouse conditions.

Best deployment strategy

• Introduce early when whitefly is first detected (or historically expected).
• Maintain regular introductions to build a stable parasitoid presence.
• Combine with predators/omnivores where whitefly pressure is high.

Compatibility notes

• Works well with: Amblyseius swirskii (predation on early stages) and omnivores like Macrolophus pygmaeus in longer crops.
• Avoid: broad-spectrum insecticides; parasitoids are highly sensitive to residues.

Environmental preferences

• Performs best in stable greenhouse climates; consistency supports population build.
• Cooler conditions slow development and parasitism.