General Pest Predators (Orius laevigatus) x 500 Adults - Live Predatory Bugs for Thrips Control
Best for: growers dealing with a thrips problem (or general small pest pressure) in a tent, glasshouse or polytunnel who want a spray-free biological knockdown that also takes out adult thrips, not just the larvae.
Our thoughts
Thrips are one of the few pests that genuinely wreck a crop if you leave them, and most biocontrol only mops up the larval stage. Orius laevigatus is one of the small number of predators that will actually go after adult thrips too, which is why we rate it as a first response rather than a last resort. Get them in early, keep the room warm enough for them to work, and they'll do the graft for you.
Orius laevigatus, commonly known as the insidious flower bug or minute pirate bug, is a small predatory anthocorid bug native to the UK and widely used in commercial biological pest control. This pack from BIOLINE contains 500 live adults and nymphs, supplied ready to release. Both life stages pierce and feed on the soft bodies of thrips, aphids and spider mites, and Orius bugs are notably enthusiastic hunters, often killing far more prey than they need to reach maturity.
Adult females can account for up to 20 thrips nymphs or 6-7 adult thrips a day, while nymphs typically take out around four second-stage thrips nymphs a day as they develop. Orius works best at temperatures above 20°C; activity slows noticeably below that and control becomes less reliable above 30°C, so timing your release to your grow room or glasshouse conditions matters.
How it compares
Orius laevigatus sits alongside a small toolkit of thrips biocontrol options, each with a different strength.
- Amblyseius cucumeris (predatory mite) targets thrips larvae efficiently but has little effect on adult thrips - Orius covers that gap.
- Steinernema feltiae nematodes attack the soil-dwelling pupal stage of thrips as a drench, complementing rather than replacing an above-ground predator like Orius.
- Chemical thrips sprays can give a faster initial knockdown but carry resistance risk and residue concerns that a live predator doesn't.
If adult thrips are part of your problem, Orius laevigatus is one of the few biological options built to deal with them directly.
Usage guidance
Orius laevigatus is a live product, so handling on arrival and timing of release both matter.
On arrival
Release the bugs as soon as possible after they arrive rather than storing them. They're shipped in a carrier material inside the pack and are ready to distribute directly onto affected plants and foliage.
Release rate
Typical introduction rates run from roughly 0.5 to 10 individuals per square metre per release, adjusted for how bad the infestation already is, with a repeat release once or twice as the population establishes.
Room conditions
Keep the growing area above 20°C where possible during and after release - Orius activity and reproduction drop off in cooler conditions.
Spray compatibility
Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides once Orius is released, as these will kill the predators along with the pests. Check compatibility charts before combining with any other pest control product.
Technical specifications
- Species: Orius laevigatus
- Common name: Insidious flower bug / minute pirate bug
- Pack contents: 500 live adults and nymphs
- Supplier: BIOLINE
- Target pests: Thrips (adults and larvae), also predates aphids and spider mites
- Optimum temperature: Above 20°C
- Typical release rate: 0.5-10 individuals per m² per release
- Handling: Live product - release on arrival, do not store
Who this is for
- Growers with an active or early-stage thrips infestation who want adult thrips dealt with, not just larvae
- IPM (integrated pest management) growers running a predator programme alongside cucumeris or nematodes
- Glasshouse and polytunnel growers where temperatures reliably sit above 20°C
- Anyone wanting to avoid repeated chemical sprays on a crop close to harvest
Best suited to warm, humid growing environments where Orius can establish and breed rather than cool spaces where activity will be limited.
Our take
Thrips are a nuisance precisely because most control methods only catch part of the life cycle. Orius laevigatus earns its place because it's one of the few predators willing and able to take on adult thrips as well as nymphs, and it does it without a single spray.
If you're building a biological pest management plan rather than reaching for chemicals, this is a solid, well-evidenced predator to have in the mix. One we sell a lot of for growers who've had thrips before and don't want a repeat.
