TT Hypoaspis Miles - Pred Mite 52678

Hypoaspis miles (Stratiolaelaps scimitus) is a soil-dwelling predatory mite used for fungus gnats and other pests that live in the growing media.

Adults are brown to tan, oval, about 1 mm long, and have eight legs. They stay in the soil and feed through their life cycle. Females can lay up to 60 eggs where pests are present. Eggs hatch in 1 to 2 days. The young pass through several stages over 5 to 7 days. Egg to adult takes about 14 days, and adults live 3 to 6 weeks. They adapt to many growing media and are used in greenhouses and container plants.

To see them, turn off the lights for 5 to 10 minutes, shake a spoonful onto white paper, and look with a flashlight.

Target pests

Fungus gnats, thrips, some shore flies, mites, root mealybugs, springtails, poultry mites, snake mites, bulb mites, varroa mites, and many other soil pests.

Soil temperature

50–96°F

Release rate

10–30 mites per square foot. Rates change with the pest, the crop, and how heavy the infestation is.

Storage

Release them as soon as they arrive. If you must hold them, store at 45–55°F for no longer than 48 hours.

• Identify the pest and release beneficial insects early.
• Pesticides, wetting agents, and spreader-stickers can harm them. Broad-spectrum and systemic insecticides are toxic.