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CanolaCAP®

Suppressing aphids using parasitic wasps in canola

CanolaCAP® capsules contain a mix of 500 aphid parasitoids (Diaeretiella rapae, Aphidius colemani, Aphidius ervi)  designed to attack most aphid species including, but not limited to, cabbage, green peach and turnip aphids. (NB: Species mix and ratio may be customised to suit your region).

Preemptive inoculative releases of CanolaCAP® are essential to ensure ongoing suppression of aphid populations. Early releases give you a greater chance of eliminating the need for a chemical insecticide. See our “Ongoing Research” section for the work we are currently doing to improve our understanding of aphid parasitoids in canola and optimise CanolaCAP® efficacy.

How Canola CAP® works

Steps

  1. Monitor: Consultants or growers monitor the canola crop weekly at 6 leaf to early budding, focusing on the underside of lower leaves and terminal flowering spikes. Aphids typically first appear along crop edges. Sticky traps are also a helpful monitoring tool to ensure early capsule application.
  2. Order capsules: At first detection of aphids on leaves or sticky traps, contact Crop Capsules to order CanolaCAP® and arrange aerial application.
  3. Distribute: Capsules, filled with parasitised aphid mummies are quickly and evenly distributed across the field by air.
  4. Emerge: Capsules protect parasitic wasps during application and emergence
  5. Reproduce: Capsules provide a convenient, safe and productive environment for mating wasps
  6. Parasitise: Fertilised female wasps lay their eggs inside aphids
  7. Kill host: A wasp larva will hatch within 2-3 days and feed on the aphid from within, eventually killing it. The parasitized aphid, known as a mummy, becomes easy to recognise as it appears bloated and takes on a shiny bronze or gold color.
  8. Emerge: The wasp pupates within the mummy and emerges as an adult.
  9. Ongoing suppression: Adult wasps then seek out partners to mate with and the cycle continues, providing ongoing suppression of pest aphids.

Application Timing

  • A preemptive inoculative release coinciding with the first detection of aphids is the most effective way to prevent aphid outbreaks in your crop.
  • Start monitoring weekly at 6 leaf to early budding, focusing on the underside of lower leaves and terminal flowering spikes. Aphids typically first appear along crop edges.
  • Infestations may be patchy so sample at least 5 points across the field. Sticky traps are also a helpful monitoring tool to ensure early capsule application.

Application Rate

Current guideline is 1 – 2 capsules per ha. Research to determine the optimum rate is ongoing. In some cases, multiple releases may be required to provide adequate suppression, particularly if pests are persistent or you have multiple reinfestations.

Application Method

  • CanolaCAP® capsules are released across fields using a light aircraft equipped with a purpose-built hopper, ensuring quick and even distribution through precision placement technology.
  • We have a network of approved aerial operators and light aircraft fitted with capsule-spreading technology.

Ongoing Research

We are part of a collaborative research team led by Cesar Australia assessing the ecological and economic benefits of controlling aphid pests of canola with parasitoid wasps, using both naturally occurring parasitoid wasps and inoculative releases. Thank you to all our growers who have dedicated canola fields to help us with this fascinating research!

Find out more: https://cesaraustralia.com/current-projects/

Follow our progress @cropcapsules

Download our Technical Content

Our capsules are compostable

Designed and manufactured in Australia

Applied using light aircraft