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FGMN Nursery

Orius insidiosus

Orius insidiosus

- Ships Nationwide

Dealing With Adult Thrips? Here’s What Actually Works.

Mites can’t touch them. Sprays don’t always work. But if adult thrips are still crawling or flying around your plants, Orius insidiosus is your best option for natural, aggressive control.


Orius insidiosus (Minute Pirate Bug – Adults)

Biological Control for Thrips at Every Stage—Including Adults

Unlike cucumeris or swirskii mites—which only target thrips larvae—Orius insidiosus goes after the entire thrips lifecycle, including the adults. These small, fast-moving predators hunt thrips on contact, pierce them with specialized mouthparts, and feed immediately.

If you need a real solution for an active thrips outbreak, especially in flowering crops, Orius does what other biological controls can’t.


What It Treats

Pest Life Stages Targeted
Thrips Adults and larvae
Aphids Adults and juveniles
Moth eggs Multiple species
Spider mites Opportunistic feeding
Other soft-bodied pests Varies based on conditions


Orius is one of the few predators that pursues and kills adult thrips, making it ideal for fast, visible pest suppression.


Why Orius Works When Mites Don’t

Feature Orius insidiosus Swirskii Cucumeris
Thrips adults Yes No No
Thrips larvae Yes Yes Yes
Other pests Aphids, mites, moth eggs Whiteflies, broad mites Thrips larvae only
Feeding when pest pressure is low Yes (pollen, aphids) Yes (pollen) Limited
Speed of action Fast Slower Preventive only
Best for Active outbreaks and flowering crops Warm, mixed-pest prevention Mild, early-stage thrips

How It Works

  • Day 0: Adults begin hunting on release

  • Days 3–5: Females lay eggs near pest clusters

  • Day 7: Eggs hatch into fast-feeding nymphs

  • Weeks 2–3: Nymphs mature into new adults

  • Under ideal conditions, you’ll get 6–7 weeks of continuous pest pressure


How Much to Use

Setup Application Rate
Small-scale setups 1 Orius per 10 square feet
Greenhouses or flowering crops 2,000–4,000 Orius per acre
High-pressure infestations Increase rate and reapply every 10–14 days


Apply early for best results. Orius is most effective when released at the first sign of adult thrips.


Best Conditions for Orius

Condition Ideal Range
Temperature 68–90°F
Humidity Moderate
Crop type Especially effective in flowering plants and pollen-rich environments
Application timing Early morning or late afternoon (avoid midday heat)


Orius performs best when pollen is available—it increases reproduction and persistence between pest meals.


Application Tips

  • Release evenly across infested areas

  • Avoid foliar sprays before or after application

  • Combine with Swirskii or Cucumeris for full lifecycle control

  • Flowering plants help Orius reproduce and persist

  • Release early for faster suppression and better egg-laying


Safe for Everything But the Pests

  • Non-toxic

  • Safe for use around people, pets, and pollinators

  • No re-entry interval required

  • Zero residue

  • Fully compatible with IPM and organic systems


Shipping and Storage

  • Ships with live delivery guarantee

  • Use immediately upon arrival for best results

  • If delayed, store at 45–55°F for up to 24 hours

  • Do not freeze or expose to heat

Regular price $68.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $68.00 USD
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Shipping & Returns

NATIONWIDE SHIPPING:
Outdoor Living & Recreation, Home & Garden products ship nationwide. The shipping fee is confirmed during checkout using your shipping address and choice of shipping provider if applicable. Products marked with free shipping will be free shipping at checkout. Once your lifestyle, home & garden order is fulfilled we'll send the tracking information to your email.

NATIONWIDE SHIPPING RETURNS: 30 day returns.
We accept returns of unused products that are defective or not defective. Your return must be processed within 30 days of the date of purchase. We do not process exchanges. We will provide a shipping label by email, you are responsible for bringing the return to the shipping provider.

FREIGHT PRODUCT RETURNS: no returns or exchanges.
There are no returns, exchanges or refunds for products delivered via freight. REFUNDS: The cost of the return shipping and a 6% credit card processing/restocking fee will be deducted from your refund amount. The refund balance will be distributed to you once the returned product is received and processed.

NATIONWIDE PRODUCT REFUNDS:
The cost of the return shipping and a 6% credit card processing/restocking fee will be deducted from your refund amount. The refund balance will be distributed to you once the order is canceled and the returned product is received and processed.

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