Stethorus punctum, Michigan orchards

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Stethorus punctum

The adult black lady beetle, Stethorus punctum, is black with silvery hairs (about 1 mm). The larva is brown or black with short spines. Both feed principally on mites.

Stethorus overwinters within the orchard in leaf litter around the base of trees. The area in the herbicide strip near the trunk of the tree should not be disturbed from November to mid-April when adults become active.

Pyrethroid insecticide applications made after half-inch green adversely affect Stethorus.

Additional information

For additional information see: http://www.ipm.msu.edu/asianladybeetle.htm
About natural enemies (from Fruit Crop Ecology and Management)
More about ladybeetles (From Identifying natural enemies)
For more monitoring information and evaluation of available pesticides:
Michigan Fruit Management Guide
MSU Diagnostic Services for assistance in pest identification.
MSU Fruit Crop Advisory Team Alert newsletters for current pest/crop conditions.

This information was developed from A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Stone Fruits by David Epstein, Larry J. Gut, Alan L. Jones and Kimberly Maxson-Stein. Purchase this in a pocket-sized guide for reference in the orchard from MSU Extension (publication E-2840).

The MSU IPM Program maintains this site as an access point to pest management information at MSU. The IPM Program is administered within the Department of Entomology, fueled by research from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, delivered to citizens through MSU Extension, and proud to be a part of Project GREEEN.
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Updated 7/24/07