Greenhouse
Guides
Amblyseius swirskii
Swirski mite
Amblyseius swirskii is a predatory mite in the family Phytoseiidae, originally described from almond trees in Israel in 1962. It has become one of the most widely used biological control agents globally, commercially available and released in more than 50 countries. The species is a generalist predator feeding on whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, broad mites, and other small arthropod pests of vegetable and ornamental crops. It can also survive and reproduce on non-prey food sources including pollen, nectar, and plant secretions, which enhances its establishment when prey are scarce.
Aphidoletes aphidimyza
aphid midge
Aphidoletes aphidimyza is a predatory gall midge used worldwide in biological control programs against aphids. Adults are small, delicate, nocturnal flies that feed on aphid honeydew and hide beneath leaves during daylight. The bright orange, slug-like larvae are specialized aphid predators that paralyze prey by injecting venom into leg joints before consuming body contents. The species is commercially mass-produced and distributed as pupae in moist substrate for greenhouse applications.
Gronotoma
Gronotoma is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Figitidae (subfamily Eucoilinae). Species within this genus are primarily known as parasitoids of leaf-mining flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae), with documented hosts including Liriomyza trifolii, L. huidobrensis, L. sativae, L. bryoniae, Melanagromyza tomaterae, and Japanagromyza tokunagai. Several species, particularly G. micromorpha, have been extensively studied for their potential as biological control agents in agricultural systems. The genus exhibits thelytokous parthenogenesis in at least some species and shows flexibility in host stage utilization.
Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis
greenhouse thrips, glasshouse thrip, black tea thrips
Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis, commonly known as the greenhouse thrips, is a polyphagous pest species in the family Thripidae. It is parthenogenetic with rare males, and reproduces rapidly in favorable conditions. The species is a significant agricultural pest of greenhouse crops, ornamentals, and fruit trees worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. It has been introduced globally and is subject to biological control efforts using parasitoids such as Thripobius semiluteus and Thripobius javae.
Micromus angulatus
brown lacewing
Micromus angulatus is a predatory brown lacewing (Hemerobiidae) distributed across Africa, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), North America, and Southern Asia. Both larvae and adults are active predators of aphids and other small soft-bodied insects, with third-instar larvae and female adults showing particularly high predation rates. The species has been extensively studied as a biological control agent against agricultural pests including Aphis craccivora, Illinoia lambersi, and Myzus persicae. Laboratory studies demonstrate temperature-dependent predation efficiency, with stable adult performance across 15–25°C and enhanced larval activity at warmer temperatures. A chromosome-level genome assembly of 1.29 Gb has been published, supporting its potential for augmentative biological control programs.
Platypalpus
dance fly, hybotid dance fly
Platypalpus is a large genus of hybotid dance flies comprising at least 580 described species worldwide, with over 200 species in Europe alone. These small predatory flies are characterized by their compact bodies, enlarged compound eyes that occupy most of the head, and raptorial front legs adapted for seizing prey. Adults are active predators that feed on small insects, while larvae occupy diverse microhabitats including leaf litter, soil, and aquatic environments. The genus has been documented in agricultural ecosystems, particularly cereal crops and greenhouses, where they may contribute to pest regulation.
Rhinotus
Rhinotus is a genus of millipedes in the family Siphonotidae, order Polyzoniida, containing at least 20 described species. The genus includes notable cosmopolitan tramp species such as Rhinotus purpureus, which has been repeatedly described as new under multiple synonyms and is frequently associated with human-modified environments.
Rhinotus purpureus
purple millipede
A small, cosmopolitan millipede species in the family Siphonotidae, native to the Neotropics but widely introduced globally through human commerce. Frequently found in greenhouses and other synanthropic habitats, it has been repeatedly described as new due to its variable appearance, resulting in over a dozen synonyms. First recorded from the Indian subcontinent in 2020.
Xystrologa grenadella
Xystrologa grenadella is a small moth in the family Tineidae. It has been documented as an invasive pest in greenhouse environments in southern Florida, USA and Germany. The species is native to the West Indies, with type locality in Grenada.