FAQ

We are a Belgian company specializing in large-scale breeding of the European ladybird Adalia bipunctata.

Our business is to produce high-performance biological control solutions against aphids to offer a practical, natural alternative to chemical insecticides. Find out more about our products on our catalog.

By controlling the entire production cycle in our facilities, we can guarantee gardeners and professionals vigorous auxiliaries, ready to provide long-term protection for plants against aphid invasions.

The name Horpi stands for Horticultureand Pi (Integrated Production). This identity reflects our deep commitment to providing organic solutions specifically adapted to the requirements of modern horticulture. Integrated Production" is at the heart of our philosophy, aiming for a perfect balance between crop yield and respect for human health, the environment and biodiversity.

We chose this species because it represents the best balance between efficiency and environmental safety.

As a native European species, its use poses no risk of biological invasion.

It is characterized by its exceptional voracity (a larva can consume up to 600 aphids during its entire development cycle) and its great versatility, attacking almost all aphid species on a wide variety of plants (trees, shrubs, flowers). For further technical information, please consult our resources.

Our solutions are designed for multi-sector application. They are just as effective in the intimate setting of a private garden or vegetable garden than for the management of public green spaces (parks, urban alignments) and professional professional horticultural cultivation (vegetable greenhouses, nurseries). They are perfectly suited to both outdoor and sheltered environments.

Horpi operates exclusively upstream of the chain as a specialized producer. We do not sell directly to individuals or end-users, in order to guarantee an expert distribution channel. To purchase our products, we invite you to find a dealer near you.

We support biological control specialists wishing to include ladybug larvae and adults in their catalog.

Interested in joining our network? Find out how to to become a dealer on our dedicated page. Leave us your contact details and our experts will get back to you to discuss your partnership project.

Horpi has made the strategic choice ofhyper-specialization. By concentrating 100% of our research and infrastructure on the Adalia bipunctata ladybug, we guarantee total mastery of the life cycle, superior quality and reliable, responsive logistics. This specialization enables us to guarantee some of the highest hatching and survival rates on the market.

Horpi quality is based on innovative rearing protocols in controlled environments, optimized feeding and rigorous monitoring of each batch. Our logistics are designed to minimize insect stress. Each ladybug dispatched benefits from maximum vitality, ensuring immediate predatory action as soon as it arrives on the release site.

By constantly investing in research and development, Horpi constantly optimizes breeding processes and, thanks to its technical expertise, designs aphid control products that are adapted to the specific needs of each crop.

Literally, this translates as "two-spotted ladybird" (from the Latin bi-punctata). This is the reference name used by biologists around the world to designate this crop auxiliary.

Although nature offers surprising color variations within the same species, for example, some specimens are melanistic (black with red spots), the name bipunctata remains the scientific constant. This marking, like the color of its wings, is a hereditary trait and not an indicator of longevity. It is precisely this species that we breed for its legendary voracity against aphids.

Absolutely. It is native to our continent and is one of the 250 species of ladybug found in Europe. Using Adalia means promoting local biodiversity without introducing imbalance, unlike the use of exotic species which can become invasive. To find out more about its ecological role, visit our page resources.

Yes, the pressure is real. The Asian ladybug is larger, reproduces faster and competes directly for food. It even eats the eggs and larvae of our local species.

By reintroducing Adalia, you are actively supporting the resilience of our native ecosystems in the face of this invasive threat.

This risk is non-existent with Adalia bipunctata. As this is a local species, releases only temporarily reinforce a population that is already naturally present.

What's more, the population is self-regulating: as soon as the food source (aphids) diminishes, the reproduction cycle naturally slows down.

The cycle begins in spring, when the adults emerge from overwintering. This is followed by a phase of active reproduction and the laying of clusters of orangey-yellow eggs under the leaves.

In 3 to 5 days, the larvae (the most voracious stage) emerge and hunt intensively for 10 to 15 days. After an immobile pupation phase (5 to 8 days), a new adult emerges.

This complete cycle can be repeated several times during the season, until autumn when the adults seek refuge in bark or cracks to overwinter.

Not necessarily. Population dynamics depend on two key factors: the availability of aphids (prey) and winter weather conditions. A winter that is too wet, or a sudden drop in aphid colonies at the end of the season, can limit the number of surviving adults for the following year.

Each stage has its own purpose.

Larvae are the "cleaners" par excellence: wingless, they remain confined to the plant where they are deposited and devour aphids relentlessly.

Adults are invaluable for dispersal over large areas and for establishing lasting control via egg-laying. For severe infestation, the combination of the two stages offers rapid, local action (larvae) and prolonged action (adults). You can find both solutions on our product boutique.

Purely preventive control is not recommended with ladybugs. They are active predators and need live prey to survive. Without aphids, the larvae will quickly starve to death and the adults will fly off to other gardens in search of food. Visit our resources to help you plan your release.

This is a crucial stage. Ants protect aphids for their honeydew and act as veritable bodyguards, often attacking and killing ladybug larvae.

We strongly recommend installing physical barriers such as glue tape to isolate the aphid colony from the ants before introducing the beneficials.

Aphids often attack the same plants for several reasons. Each species has preferred host plants, better suited to its feeding needs. Moreover, many overwinter as eggs on these plants, leading to recurrent infestations in spring. They are also attracted by chemical signals emitted by their favorite plants. Finally, some plants are more vulnerable than others, as they have fewer natural defenses against these insects.

During spring and summer, aphids have a formidable strategy: females don't need to mate. They give birth directly to young aphids, already formed and ready to feed immediately.

And in 7 to 10 days, the young aphids become adults and can in turn produce new individuals.

No, this species is highly polymorphic. While the two-spotted red form is the most famous, black individuals with red spots (melanistic forms) or orange individuals are also common. This aesthetic variability in no way alters their predatory efficiency.

The most reliable identification criterion is the pronotum (the part between the head and the elytra). It is always black with two distinct white lateral spots. This anatomical detail makes it impossible to confuse it with other species, whatever the color of its back.

Yes, absolutely. It's an insect with wings (protected under its elytra) and excellent flying skills. This ability is essential in nature: it enables it to move from plant to plant, covering significant distances to locate new aphid colonies as soon as its current food source runs out.

This is a possibility if food is in short supply. However, if your plants are sufficiently infested with aphids, the adults will stay to feed and, above all, to lay their eggs, thus ensuring larval succession on your site.

Under cover (greenhouse or veranda), management is tricky, as adults can be attracted by light walls and become exhausted. For targeted efficacy on specific indoor targets, the use of larvae is often preferred. Adults are recommended for prolonged control in large greenhouse complexes.

Yes, our packaging boxes allow for air renewal. Their metabolism during transport remains low, limiting their oxygen consumption and ensuring their arrival in perfect health.

As with adults, this is not advisable. Larvae have very limited autonomy without food. For best results, wait until you see the first aphid colonies before releasing the larvae.

In general, no. Being apterous (wingless) and finding their food locally, they have no reason to migrate as long as aphids are available. They will remain sedentary until their final transformation.

The loyalty of new adults will depend on the continuity of food resources. If there are aphids left, or if your garden offers melliferous flowers (a source of pollen and nectar for the adults), they will be much more inclined to stay in your ecosystem.

That's what ecological management is all about! If you maintain a diversified environment (native hedges, "laissez-faire" areas, insect shelters), the adults will be able to hibernate on site, forming the first line of natural defense the following spring.

It all depends on the balance of your garden. In a very unbalanced environment, or for sensitive crops undergoing massive annual attacks, a "support" release each spring can compensate for the absence of natural predators and rapidly stabilize the situation.

This is an excellent practice, particularly recommended for heavy infestations. In this way, you combine the immediate action of cleaning out larvae with the potential for reproduction and colonization of adults.

Yes, but some pre-preparation is useful. If there are too many aphids, the larvae risk being overwhelmed and not being able to control the populations effectively. Cleansing the aphids (with a jet of water or an approved biological product) before release allows the larvae to regain the upper hand over the aphids. For more practical advice, visit our resources.

Yes, its effectiveness has been scientifically proven and documented. It is one of the most powerful weapons of biocontrol. It targets a very broad spectrum, including rose aphids, black bean aphids and many other common horticultural species.

Absolutely. Horpi delivers insects packaged for immediate use. Each box comes with clear instructions. Your customers don't need any technical expertise to make a successful release. You can consult the instructions for use in our resources.

The production of living beings follows the rhythm of the seasons. Availability is optimal during the natural aphid periods (spring/summer). We provide our dealers with a precise calendar of availability periods each year.

Thanks to our massive production infrastructure, we maintain buffer stocks for our network. This enables us to ensure rapid shipments even during spring demand peaks, guaranteeing insect freshness.

We use express logistics circuits specialized in the transport of living things. Packaging is designed to maintain a stable temperature, ensuring that the ladybugs arrive at the retailer with 100% of their operational potential.

Export is possible, but subject to strict transport protocols to preserve the viability of the insects. Each export request is studied by our logistics department to ensure that the Horpi quality chain is maintained.

Joining the Horpi network means offering a premium, 100% natural product of Belgian origin. You'll benefit from exclusive quality, responsive technical support and dedicated marketing tools to promote this ecological solution to your customers. To direct your customers to a point of sale, use the following link find a dealer.

Although we do not provide a paper leaflet for each box, we do make available to our dealers a complete digital "Partner Kit" and our page resources. The kit includes high-definition visuals, detailed data sheets and tips that you can adapt to your own communication media.

The procedure is simple: fill in the contact form on our Become a reseller page. An account manager will study your profile and get back to you to present our prices and partnership terms.