Trichogramma minutum – Egg Parasitoid Wasp for Caterpillar & Borer Control


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Sale price$38.95

📆 Please allow at least 7 days lead time before shipment

🚚 Ships via overnight service on Tuesdays only

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Description

Trichogramma minutum Egg Parasitoid Wasp for Caterpillars and Borers | Happy Hydro

Stop caterpillars and borers before the eggs ever hatch

By the time you see chewed leaves, the caterpillar is already doing damage and is hard to reach. Trichogramma minutum attacks a step earlier: these tiny wasps parasitize the eggs of moths and butterflies, so the pest never hatches into a feeding caterpillar. Release the cards weekly for ongoing prevention. This is the right strain for growers in the eastern and central US.

Stops pests at the egg stage Eastern and central US strain Ships live, overnight Tuesdays

Live insects ship on Tuesdays only and arrive Wednesday. Orders must be placed 7 days in advance. Anything ordered by 3pm EST Tuesday ships the following Tuesday by UPS overnight shipping.

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Fighting caterpillars vs. destroying their eggs
Caterpillar sprays
  • You react after caterpillars are already chewing
  • Large caterpillars shrug off many treatments
  • Sprays coat foliage and may need harvest timing
  • Broad products hit butterflies and beneficials
  • One-and-done treatments leave gaps
  • Reactive and labor-heavy
Trichogramma minutum
  • Destroys the eggs before a single caterpillar hatches
  • The pest is stopped at its most vulnerable stage
  • No spray, no residue, no re-entry interval
  • Wasps target moth and butterfly eggs, sparing the crop
  • Weekly cards give continuous egg-stage coverage
  • Hang a card and the wasps patrol for you
Why egg-stage control changes the game

Kills pests before they hatch Egg-stage control

Female wasps lay their eggs inside pest moth eggs. The developing wasp consumes the contents, so no caterpillar ever emerges to feed on your plants.

Hits many caterpillar pests

Trichogramma parasitizes the eggs of a wide range of moths and butterflies, covering many of the loopers, borers, and worms that plague vegetable and flowering crops.

Built for a weekly program

Because moths keep laying, the strongest results come from releasing cards weekly during the flight period so fresh wasps are always present for fresh eggs.

Wasps keep cycling

Adults emerge from the cards in days and go looking for more pest eggs, extending each release beyond the moment you hang it.

Region-matched strain

Minutum is the appropriate strain for eastern and central US conditions. Western US growers should ask us about T. platneri instead.

Low-effort to deploy

The cards clip onto plants with no mixing or equipment, so weekly prevention stays low-effort.

Pest species it targets
Armyworms Cutworms Cabbage loopers Fruitworms Borers (incl. corn borer) Codling moth Leafrollers Hornworms and many more
Where it works best
Temperature
Effective 50-95°F; optimal 68-81°F
Humidity
Around 60% RH
Region
Eastern and central US strain
Program
Weekly during moth flights
Application instructions
1

Hang or clip the cards in the canopy across the crop.

2

Release when moths are active; wasps emerge in 2-5 days (fastest at 80-90°F).

3

Typical rate 1-2 per sq ft, or 50,000-100,000 per acre weekly during flights.

4

Release in the morning and don't delay once the wasps emerge.

How Trichogramma stops the next caterpillar

1

Hang the cards

Clip the release cards onto plants across your grow, spaced fairly evenly through the canopy.

2

Wasps emerge in days

Adult Trichogramma hatch from the parasitized eggs on the card and immediately begin searching for pest eggs.

3

They parasitize pest eggs

Each female lays inside moth and butterfly eggs. Parasitized eggs darken as the wasp develops instead of a caterpillar.

4

Repeat weekly

Because moths keep laying, hang fresh cards each week during the flight period to keep steady coverage.

What you get and how to size it
What ships to you
  • Trichogramma minutum release cards with parasitized host eggs
  • Count matched to your chosen size
  • Hanging and weekly release instructions
  • Insulated overnight packaging
Sizes and options
  • Card counts: sized to your grow area
  • Program: weekly releases during moth activity
  • Western US growers: ask us about T. platneri, the regional strain
Minutum or platneri? Minutum suits eastern and central US growers. West of the Rockies, T. platneri is the better-adapted strain. Not sure which fits your area? Call us before you order. Call or email us: 716-217-0353 / help@happyhydro.com
Frequently asked questions
For growers west of the Rockies we generally recommend Trichogramma platneri, which is adapted to western species and conditions. Minutum is the eastern and central US strain. Call us and we will get you the right one for your region.
Parasitized pest eggs darken to brown or black as the wasp develops inside, which is your visible confirmation. Beyond that, the real signal is what you do not see: fewer new caterpillars and less fresh chewing damage over the following weeks.
No. Trichogramma are among the smallest insects in the world and are harmless to people, pets, and plants. They are interested only in the eggs of moths and butterflies.
Live insects ship overnight on Tuesdays only, so they arrive Wednesday while still fresh. Place your order at least 7 days ahead so we can include you in the next weekly dispatch. We cannot ship live insects to HI, PR, VI, GU, AS, or PW. Open the package and release the same day it arrives.
If you receive a defective or damaged unit, email us a photo at help@happyhydro.com and we'll make it right immediately. For change-of-mind returns, we accept returns within 30 days for items in new, resalable condition. If you're not sure whether this product is right for your setup, call us first at 716-217-0353. We'd rather answer your questions before you order.
Happy Hydro has been selling growing equipment since 2006. We've carried Beneficial Insects for years because the biology works and customers who buy it leave happy. Have questions before you order? Call 716-217-0353 or email help@happyhydro.com. We're easy to reach and happy to help!

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We ship fast from Buffalo, NY. Most orders land at your door in 3-5 business days. Free standard shipping on orders $49+, plain-box packaging, and real humans ready to help if anything goes sideways.

Free shipping on orders over $49
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Serving growers since 2006
When you order from Happy Hydro

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Shipping details at a glance
Delivery time
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Default carrier
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Signature required
Orders over $500 only
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Frequently asked questions
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Why Buy From Happy Hydro

Why Buy From Happy Hydro

Happy Hydro began as a pipe dream in a garage and has grown into something built almost entirely on word of mouth and repeat customers. Rather than focusing on raising margins and obsessing over profits, we've always believed that the right combination of competitive prices, superior products, and world-class customer service speaks for itself. Our philosophy will never change: when you're happy, we're happy.

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