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The tiny females (about 0.6 mm long) are black with a yellow abdomen and opalescent wings. Males are somewhat larger than females and completely black, and are extremely rare. Females deposit 50-100 eggs individually.
The wasp larvae develop through four instars in about two weeks at optimum temperatures. As the larvae grow they kill the whiteflies.
They are most active in sunny weather.
Optimum conditions are temperatures over 68 degrees and relative humidity 50-70%.
When daytime temperatures are less then 64 degrees Encarsia activity is reduced, making them less effective.
Encarsia wasps are shipped in the pupal stage, on leaves or glued to small cards that can be hung directly on the plants. Release rates vary considerably depending on the whitefly density, the crop, and the time of year.
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