Diglyphus isaea – Beneficial Parasitoid Wasps for Leafminer Control

Targeted Biological Control for Leafminers

Diglyphus isaea is a beneficial parasitoid wasp used for biological control of leafminers in greenhouses, nurseries, indoor growing environments, and commercial crops. These tiny beneficial insects actively search plant foliage for leafminer larvae developing inside their characteristic tunnels, or "mines."

Diglyphus isaea attacks leafminer larvae directly and lays eggs near suitable hosts. The developing beneficial larvae then feed on the leafminer, helping interrupt the pest's life cycle before it can mature and cause additional plant damage.

An excellent addition to an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, D. isaea is especially useful when leafminers have been detected and active mines are visible on foliage.

Application Rate Recommendations for Diglyphus isaea:

• Preventative: 500 adults per 5,000-20,000 square feet depending on pest levels.
• Moderate Infestation: 500 adults per 2,500-5,000 square feet.
• Heavy Infestation: 500 adults per 1,000-2,500 square feet.

How-To UseDiglyphus isaea For Best Results:

• Release as soon as possible after the leaf miner infection increases.
• Apply in the morning or evening between the leaves on the plants.

Features & Benefits:

• Kills leaf-miner larva in the mine and lays an egg on it.
• The emerging larvae use the dead miner as food.
• The adult parasite exits the tunnel sometime later and will then go on to lay 200 – 300 eggs during its nearly month-long life.
• Destructive leaf miners often survive pesticide treatments because they are protected inside the tunnels but they cannot escape the parasite.
• Leaves with short or dead-ended mines often indicate the presence of Diglyphus isaea.

Item Numbers:

BW-DI25 - 30 ml vial 0.25K