The triangle lady beetle, Scymnus interruptus, and the variegated lacewing, Micromus variegatus, can both suppress new aphid infestations in pepper cultivation when used preventively. This is the conclusion of Wageningen University & Research researchers in their report "Selection and evaluation of new natural enemies for preventive control of aphids in greenhouse horticulture". An advantage of S. interruptus is that it can survive long periods without aphids, subsisting solely on pollen and nectar from pepper flowers. The lacewing M. variegatus proved to be a good candidate for locating new aphid infestations in cucumber. In roses, the control of potato aphids was most successful with the parasitic wasps Praon volucre and Aphelinus abdominalis.
The research was conducted from 2020 to 2023. The study aimed to improve the possibilities for biological control of aphids with additional species. The triangle lady beetle has been found to survive long on pollen and nectar from pepper flowers. Ninety percent of the adults were still alive after 100 days. This is beneficial for preventive use, as peppers continuously bloom, ensuring this food source is always available. The lacewing M. variegatus can also survive for several weeks on pollen and nectar from pepper flowers but survives better in the presence of a high-quality food source such as flour moth eggs (Ephestia kuehniella). When used preventively, these species were successful in controlling aphids.
Read here the entire research at WUR.