Rhyzobius forestieri is a small black ladybird with a lot of hairs all over the body. The last part of the abdomen has an orange-brown colour. The size of the adult is about 3 mm. The larvae are grey. The pupae are dark brown in colour and difficult to find. The larvae feed primarily on eggs of soft scales. When the adult beetle has preyed upon a scale, the scale cover has got an irregular hole in it.
Rhyzobius forestieri is a predator of different species of soft scales including Saissetia oleae and Saissetia coffeae. The larvae eat the small instars and the eggs of the soft scales. The adults make a hole in the bigger scales and eat the body underneath.
greenhouses: March - October
T = 18 - 26°C, T optimum = 21°C
RH = 40 - 80%
indoor garden, ornamental production
Floriculture:
Release at high pest densities,Heavy infestation: 3-5 per m².
Repeat several times every 2-3 weeks.
Open the jar near the pest.
Distribute the shredded paper with the beetles over the plants.
Leave the jar opened near the plant so the remaining beetles can leave the jar.
The beetles will immediately start looking for prey.
