Pantry moth wasps

Description

Advantages of pantry moth biocontrol

• A great way to reduce pantry moth infestations without resorting to chemicals
• Break the lifecycle of pantry moths by killing them in the egg stage
• Quick and easy to use

How it works

Trichogramma are tiny wasps (less than 0.5 mm long) that parasitise pantry moth eggs. Female wasps lay their own eggs within pantry moth eggs. When the wasp eggs hatch, the wasp larvae eat the developing caterpillars inside the moth eggs. The wasp larvae then pupate inside the moth eggs and emerge as adult wasps.

This process takes 7 -14 days depending on temperature and a female wasp can parasitise over 50 moth eggs during her lifespan of up to 2 weeks.

Trichogramma wasps are efficient parasitoids of moth eggs.  They will however, never eliminate a pest population and are not a ‘silver-bullet’ solution.  We strongly recommend you read the supporting information on our website where we suggest a suite of actions that will help to manage what is a difficult pest.

Pack size

• Domestic pack – 30 release cells (half sheet) each containing at least 1,000 wasps (total 30,000 wasps)
• Sheet of release cards – 60 release cells, each containing at least 1,000 wasps (total 60,000 wasps)

Storage and handling

• We send Trichogramma as parasitised eggs
• When they arrive, store at room temperature (out of direct sunlight) and wasps will emerge within a week
• Adult wasps cannot be stored for later use – they must be released as soon as they emerge
• The video below shows what you will see in the cups once Trichogramma wasps start to emerge – note that they are very small and you will not see all the wasps at once because they emerge over a period of several days
• Be aware that each of the release cells has central pinholes through which the tiny wasps will emerge.  Separate from each other and place amongst the items you wish to protect.  Do not tear the cells as they are designed to protect the tiny wasp during emergence and dispersal.

How many to release

• Adjust release rates depending on the amount of food and level of pantry moth activity
• As a guide, use 2-3 release cells (2,000 – 3,000 wasps) for each square metre of pantry shelf space

When to release

• Release preventatively or at the first sign of pantry moth activity, then follow up with monthly releases until there is no further evidence of pantry moth

How to release

• Separate and distribute individual cells around your pantry immediately – wasps will begin to emerge approximately within 1-2 days after arrival (depending on delivery time and ambient temperature)

Supporting strategies

• Ensure dry goods are stored in airtight containers and avoid storing these foods for lengthy periods
• Clean out food storage areas thoroughly, wipe shelves with a damp cloth and vacuum crevices to remove any food residue
• Food storage containers can be frozen for 3-4 days to kill pantry moths

Chemical use

• Many chemical products are highly toxic to Trichogramma wasps – avoid using pesticides in your home