Also known as the “Western Predatory Mite", Galendomus Occidentalis is a remarkable predator. The few studies that have been done on it, along with our customers’ feedback, have shown it to be chronically underutilized by farmers throughout the world. This is the only predator that can withstand the blistering hot, arid summers of California’s Central Valley.
Vineyards and orchards alike use numerous ways to apply these special creatures over thousands of acres. Drones are now the most widely used vehicle for release. They offer more precise, economical, and simple application over the vast agriculture empires in central California.
New research has found that Occidentalis is a very ferocious russet mite predator. The two most widely known russet mites are on tomato and hemp plants. Both of these plants have significant trichome production on their leaf tissue. It is thought that these trichomes inadvertently protect russet mites from widely used Neoseiulus/Amblyseius species.
An adult female Occidentalis is about half the size of adult female Neoseiulus/Amblyseius species. It is believed that their smaller body allows for deeper penetration of trichomes on these tomato and hemp/cannabis leaves. This allows Occidentalis to reach, feed on, and reproduce on the minuscule russet mites destroying the foliage.
