Cucumber: Feltiella second line and preventive protection for spider mites

The gall midge Feltiella acarisuga is notorious for its insatiable appetite and excellent searching skills.

It happens only very rarely that a greenhouse doesn't get a visit of the spider mite. Especially in this time of year, when temperatures rise and the air gets dryer, mite populations get a serious boost. For cucumber and gherkin growers in Western Europe, now is the time to act.

The common beneficial to control spider mite in cucumber is the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis. During peaks in mite pressure, growers can however rely on an extra beneficial to ensure a satisfying result: the gall midge Feltiella acarisuga. “Feltiella acts also like a parasite”, says Pascal Briand, IPM and Pollination Specialist at Biobest. “The females look for spider mite hot spots to lay their eggs. When these hatch, the progeny devours the helpless mites.” The gall midge’s appetite is notorious: it can eat five times more mites than persimilis.

Another advantage of Feltiella is that this beneficial has excellent searching skills. Pascal: “The females can find even the most distant pest mite hot spots in de greenhouse. So, generally, growers don’t need to worry to put Feltiella in the exact hot spots as the gall midge females will find them by themselves. Obviously, this makes Feltiella an excellent choice for preventive releases.”
 
Press releases: Biobest Belgium NV

Read more:

FreshMatch is now live. Schedule your meetings ahead of ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026

24 June 2026

ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA has launched FreshMatch, a new matchmaking platform that allows buyers to schedule meetings with exhibitors before the trade show begins. Organisers are encouraging participants to register as soon as possible, underlining that available meeting slots are filling up quickly. The new tool has been created to help buyers arrive at the exhibition with a full meeting calendar »

FreshMatch goes live at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026

24 June 2026

New platform enables pre-scheduled meetings between global buyers and exhibitors. ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA has launched FreshMatch, a new matchmaking platform that for the first time allows registered buyers to browse participating exhibitors, identify relevant suppliers, and schedule face-to-face meetings ahead of the exhibition, which will take place from 2 to 4 September 2026 at AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong. »

ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA launches FRESHTech - a dedicated technology platform for Asia’s fresh produce business

24 June 2026

ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA, the leading international trade show for Asia’s fresh produce business, has announced the launch of FRESHTech — a new platform dedicated to fresh produce technology, which will debut at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA 2026 in Hong Kong from 2 to 4 September. By combining a specially curated exhibition zone, a two-day content stage, and the inaugural FRESHTech »