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1. Start with high-quality biological control agents
The foundation of any successful IPM strategy is using high-quality natural predators. At Can Hub, we partner with Agrobío, a world leader in biological agents, to supply premium predatory mites, parasitic wasps, and other beneficial organisms. Can Hubs worldwide supply chain combined with Agrobio premium products ensure that the predators arrive on site in pristine condition and when the grower needs them. 

2. Rigorous quality control and research
The second key element is constant and rigorous quality checks combined with ongoing practical research. Given that natural predators are living organisms, they are vulnerable products that can be impacted by handling and transportation. At Can Hub, our team conducts continuous quality checks upon arrival and performs practical research to assess their efficacy in real-world greenhouse environments. This ensures that growers receive the best biological controls, allowing us to offer tailored advice on application strategies to maximize pest suppression.

3. Optimal distribution for maximum impact 
The more uniformly the bugs are released in the crop, the better the results will be. Proper release methods are key to maintaining the highest number of viable predators. While manual release is possible, using specialized tools can improve efficiency:

• The Bio divider in the chrysanthemum cultivation
• The Monorail in combination with the Bio divider in pot plant cultivation (due to the presence of an electrically driven wheel set, this is mainly convenient for horticulturists who do not have a spray boom).
• The Bio slider in cucumber cultivation
• Agrobio handblower This hand blower is very suitable for blowing especially predatory mites (montdorensis/swirskii/Cucumeris on to beds) but can also be used for other insects.

Agrobio offers a comprehensive range of predatory mite species to combat common pests in cannabis crops, including thrips, broad mites, russet mites, spider mites, and whiteflies.

• Neoseiulus cucumeris. Amblyseius swirskii, Transeius montdorensis & Stratiolaelaps scimitus against the different thrips species.
• Phytoseiulus persimillis, Ablyseius andersoni & Neoseiulus californicus against spider mites.

To rapidly build up predatory mite populations, we employ a feeding strategy using live prey mites. This ensures a stable population from the start, even in the absence of pests, as the predatory mites can still feed on supplemental protein sources.

We use a range of parasitic wasps to combat aphid infestations. These include standard species such as Aphidius colemani and Aphidius ervi, complemented by:

• Aphidoletes aphidimyza (gall midge)
• Chrysoperla carnea (green lacewing larvae)
• Occasionally, Adalia bipunctata (ladybird larvae) for added efficacy.
• Our Aphidoletes aphidimyza is provided in specialized cardboard tubes for easy greenhouse placement, ensuring optimal hatching conditions for these effective aphid predators.

• Nemathodes against fungus gnats & shore fly’s
• Oris leavigatus against thrip species
• Dalotio coriaria against thrip species

Contact our specialist to explore tailored options for developing and maintaining a high-quality IPM strategy that suits your crops, pest challenges, and specific needs.

Thrips like Frankliniella occidentalis and Scirtothrips dorsalis can be managed using:

•  Neoseiulus cucumeris: A versatile mite effective against thrips and other pests such as red spider mites and broad mites. Can survive on pollen if no prey is available.
•  Transeius montdorensis: Predatory mite that feeds on thrips, whiteflies, and small arthropods.
•  Orius laevigatus: A predatory bug that consumes up to 20 thrips per day and is highly mobile.

For aphids such as Aphys gossypii, Myzus persicae/nicotianae, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, Aulacorthum solani the following natural predators can be used:  

•  Adalia bipunctata: This is a coleopteran, from the coccinelid family. It is known as two-spotted ladybird and is highly effective against several aphid species.
•  Aphidoletes aphidimyza: This is a mosquito from family Cecidomyiidae, and its larvae control effectively the aphids from family Aphidae. The A. aphidimyza lays its eggs on plants that have a high population of aphids, on the underside of the leaves. When the larva of A. aphidimyza finds the prey, it injects a toxin into it and eats the aphid 10 minutes later.
•  ORNAcontrol: This product is a mix of the parasitoids Aphidius colemani, Aphidius matricariae, Aphidius ervi, Aphelinus abdominalis, Ephedrus cerasicola and Praon volucre. ORNAcontrol has been designed to control the main species of aphids present in horticultural crops. They can parasitize aphids of any stage. In addition, a pheromone is released that incites the aphids to let themselves fall into the ground, causing death to some of them in the process.
•  Chrysoperla carnea: This aphid predator can help to control other pests like whiteflies or thrips. Only the larvae of the C. carnea are active predators. In case of lack of aphids, C. carnea can survive eating mites, thrips and small lepidoptera. 

To control red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) we can use the following natural enemies:

•  Amblyseius andersoni: This is a polyphagous phytoseid. It feeds on mites from families Tetranychidae, especially Panonychus ulmi, Eriophyidae and also pollen. A. andersoni has a good performance in both indoor and outdoor crops and is usually used to control spider mite pests.
•  Feltiella acarisuga: The adults are not predators, and they only need water and sugar to survive. However, they can find the hot spot of red spider mites, and lay their eggs close to these hot spots. The larva eat the eggs, nymphs or adults of red spider mites, effectively controlling large populations of red spider mites. 
•  Phytoseiulus persimilis is a predatory mite of red spider mite. Once the spider hot spot is found, the female lays its eggs on it. From each egg will emerge a larva that eats 5 adults or 20 eggs per day depending on the stage, until it becomes an adult. P. persimilis eats all the stages of the red spider mite, although it prefers young spiders. 

To control Broad & Russet mite pests, the following natural enemies are used:

•  Amblyseius andersoni: This is a polyphagous phytoseid. It feeds on mites from families Tetranychidae, especially Panonychus ulmi, Eriophyidae and also pollen. A. andersoni has a good performance in both indoor and outdoor crops and is usually used to control spider mite pests and hemp russet mites.
•  Neoseiulus cucumeris: This is a mite from the phytoseiid family. (formerly known as Amblyseius cucumeris) is used to control Broad mites and several species of thrips, especially Frankliniella occidentalis. They also eat red spider mites, broad mites and other similar insects. They can survive without thrips if they find pollen. 

  

Do not hesitate to ask your questions to our specialist using the form. We will respond to your questions as soon as possible.