Amblydromalus limonicus

Green icon of a mite on a green background

What is Amblydromalus limonicus

Amblydromalus limonicus (commercial name Limonica) is a generalist predatory mite used to control thrips and whitefly in protected crop settings. It has a strong appetite across different prey stages, good reproduction, and performs reliably even at cooler temperatures, making it especially useful in early season or lower-heat environments

Here’s What They Look Like at Different Stages of Their Life

  • Eggs: Small, oval, and white, typically deposited on the underside of leaves.
  • Larvae: Six-legged and slightly larger than eggs; they must feed to grow, and without prey they develop slowly or die.
  • Protonymph / Deutonymph: Eight-legged, pale whitish-yellow.
  • Adults: Tear-drop shape body, translucent in color, and about ~0.4 mm long. Their color can change depending on prey and diet

Behavior: These mites actively move around the underside of leaves, looking for thrips larvae, whitefly eggs, and other small prey. Because they’re so small and light in color, they can be hard to spot, but when they're there, they’re working.

Why growers love it:

  • Feeds on both 1st and 2nd instar thrips larvae, as well as whitefly eggs and larvae.
  • Performs well at lower temperatures, where many other predatory mites slow down.
  • Can survive on pollen when prey is limited, helping it stay alive between pest outbreaks.
  • Can be used along with Orius bugs or whitefly parasitoids. But avoid combining with other generalist predatory mites like Amblyseius swirskii to prevent competition.
  • Non-chemical, safe for people, plants, and beneficial insects.
a predatory mite eating a whitefly egg
Amblydromalus limonicus attacking a thrips on a green leaf with a blurred background
Three small predatory on a green leaf
Close of of amblydromalus limonicus on leaf

When to use Amblydromalus limonicus

Timing is critical to achieving success with predatory mites. They perform best when introduced before pests reach outbreak levels.

Preventive Use:

  • Introduce Limonica early, before thrips or whitefly build-up, to establish a strong predator population.
  • Ideal for greenhouse vegetable crops like peppers, cucumbers, etc.

Curative Use:

  • Release at the first sign of thrips larvae (especially 2nd instar) or when whitefly eggs/larvae appear.
  • Efficient in targeting and suppressing multiple stages of thrips, whitefly, and pest mite populations.
  • Multiple releases will be necessary for high/moderate pest pressure

Environmental Conditions:

  • Best performance is between 13–25 °C (55–77°F); it becomes less effective above 30°C.
  • Sensitive to low relative humidity (below ~70%), moderate to high humidity helps it thrive.
  • Not recommended for tomato due to its surface hairs, which can inhibit mite dispersal and establishment.

Note: Monitoring is essential. Inspect leaves, flowers, and fruit clusters weekly to determine if additional releases are required.

How to release Amblydromalus limonicus

  1. Spin the bottle gently before opening to distribute the mites evenly.
  2. Open the dosage hole on the cap and lightly sprinkle onto leaf surfaces, focusing on upper and lower leaves.
  3. Leave deposited mites in place for a few hours, avoid immediately disturbing the crop so mites can settle.
  4. Typical rates are 50–250 mites per m² per release, with weekly or biweekly releases, depending on the pest pressure, climate, and crop.
  5. Other application tools: You can also use a Natutec Airobreez to distribute them more systematically in the canopy.

Formulations & How to choose

Bottle
  • Description:
    • Contains mites in bran for easy scattering
  • Best use:
    • Greenhouse only; repeat releases; use when you want to drastically increase the amount of predatory mites in your greenhouse.

Tips for each formulation:

  • Bottle: Shake gently before distributing. Apply directly to leaves, flowers, and fruit clusters.

Selecting the right formulation depends on crop, growing space, pest pressure, and your IPM strategy. Preventive programs and low-humidity growing spaces often benefit from sachet formulations, while high-humidity greenhouses with high pest pressure will only require Bottle releases.

Amblydromalus limonicus Products
 
Large bottle of limonica 12,500

Limonica

$113.62 CAD

Monitoring & Follow-up

Tracking both predator and pest populations ensures A. limonicus delivers consistent results:

  • Weekly inspections: Look for mites and prey on leaves, flowers, and fruit clusters.
  • Sticky traps: Monitor thrips and whitefly activity to gauge control effectiveness.
  • Supplemental releases: If pest populations are high or mites have not fully established, follow up with additional releases.

A well-maintained predator population can maintain pest control long-term, reducing the need for chemical interventions.

Tips for Growers

  • Use Limonica early in the crop cycle or at the first signs of pest activity for best results.
  • Maintain moderate humidity (≥ 70%) and avoid very hot conditions to keep Limonica active.
  • Make sure to adjust your release rate to match pest pressure.
  • Monitor pest populations and predator activity weekly to track efficacy.
  • Combine Limonica with complementary biologicals (e.g., Orius bugs) for broad-spectrum, sustainable pest control.
  • Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that harm mites. Selective or compatible pesticides can be used if necessary.

A: Mites begin hunting immediately. Pest numbers usually drop within 2-4 weeks and after multiple releases, depending on crop size, product type, and initial infestation.

A: Yes! A. limonicus is compatible with many other predators and parasitoids, just not other generalist predatory mites like Swirski, Anso-Mite, & Thripex.

In preventive and curative programs, you need to keep applying weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on product, pest infestation, and crop type, until crop end.

A: Best on crops with dense foliage or flowers. Less effective in very dry environments or on very wet leaves. Do not use in tomatoes due to the trichomes and chemicals released from this plant.