# Amblyseius swirskii

> A warmth-loving generalist predatory mite that eats thrips larvae, whitefly eggs and nymphs and broad mites, and can persist on pollen.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/amblyseius-swirskii.html
- Also written: swirskii, A. swirskii, swirski mite
- Glossary category: Pests and diseases · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

*Amblyseius swirskii* is a generalist [predatory mite](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/predatory-mite.md) of the family Phytoseiidae, originally from the eastern Mediterranean. It feeds on young [thrips](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/thrips.md) larvae, [whitefly](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/whitefly.md) eggs and young nymphs, [broad mites](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/broad-mite.md) and other small [mites](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/two-spotted-spider-mite.md), and can live on pollen when prey is scarce. That diet makes it one of the most widely used preventive predators in greenhouse crops.

## In practice

Growers release *swirskii* in veg, loose on leaves or in sachets, to keep thrips and whitefly from building. It needs warmth: it performs best above roughly 20 °C (68 °F) and does poorly in cool rooms. Low humidity limits egg survival. Because it does not eat spider mites well, it is often combined with *[Neoseiulus californicus](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/neoseiulus-californicus.md)* or *[Phytoseiulus persimilis](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/phytoseiulus-persimilis.md)*. It is also used against broad mites on tips. Rooms with heavy trichome coverage can slow movement on some cultivars, which is one reason releases go in early.

## Don't confuse with

- **Neoseiulus cucumeris**: the cooler-tolerant thrips predator, usually cheaper and less persistent.
- **Orius**: a predatory bug that eats adult thrips as well as larvae.
- **Spider mite predators**: *persimilis* and *californicus*.

## Related terms

[Thrips](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/thrips.md), [Whitefly](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/whitefly.md), [Broad mite](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/broad-mite.md), [Neoseiulus cucumeris](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/neoseiulus-cucumeris.md), [Predatory mite](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/predatory-mite.md)

## Read more

- [Thrips on cannabis: life table, temperature, scouting and biological control](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/pests/thrips.md)
- [Whiteflies on cannabis: life table, temperature, parasitoids and IPM](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/pests/whiteflies.md)

## Sources

1. UConn IPM. Biological Control of Western Flower Thrips. https://ipm.cahnr.uconn.edu/ipm-biological-control-of-western-flower-thrips/
2. UConn IPM. Biological Control of Whiteflies. https://ipm.cahnr.uconn.edu/ipm-biological-control-of-whiteflies