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Hyper-Mite™
Stratiolaelaps scimitus (formerly known as Hypoaspis miles)
Hyper-Mite, a predatory mite inhabiting soil, targets fungus gnats (mycetophilids, sciarid flies), shore flies, thrips pupae, other insects, mites, and nematodes in soil and growing media. It has also proven effective against the pollen cap mite (Tyrophagus neiswanderi) in cymbidiums.
This mite is valuable in greenhouse vegetable and ornamental crops, including bulbs, as part of integrated pest management strategies.
Hyper-Mite is small, pale brown, and highly mobile, exhibiting energetic behavior. Adult mites measure between 0.5 to 1.0 mm and are typically found in the upper layers of soil or compost.
Activity of Hyper-Mite ceases below 12°C, with developmental halting below 8°C; the species does not enter diapause and can survive 6-8 weeks without prey by consuming decaying organic matter.
Using saw-like mouthparts, Hyper-Mite punctures and slices prey tissue, subsequently consuming it, which results in a desiccated prey carcass. It prefers younger fungus gnat larvae and can consume 1-5 prey per day. Both adult and immature Hyper-Mite exhibit predatory behavior.
While effective against thrips pupae in soil, Hyper-Mite alone does not provide adequate thrips control. Combining it with Mite-A and/or Orius enhances thrips management significantly.
Hyper-Mite poses no harm to humans or animals and is not expected to have adverse environmental effects.
The pest: whitefly (left) & the solution: Encarsia (right)
Normal whitefly pupa (white) and parasitized pupa (black). An adult Encarsia will emerge from the black scale(right)
The Pest: Fungus gnats
Fungus gnats are small, dark, two-winged flies with long legs similar to mosquitoes. Adults are approximately 3 mm long and are weak, erratic fliers. They are more prevalent in greenhouses, but may also become numerous outdoors.
The larvae of fungus gnats are white or transparent and are legless, and have a shiny black head. They are usually found just below the soil surface in association with decaying plant material, moss and algae.
The life cycle of fungus gnats takes approximately 25 days at temperatures above 20 C.
Ideal conditions for fungus gnat outbreaks are high humidity, high soil or growing media organic matter, water-saturated soil or growing media, presence of moss and algae and decaying plant material.
Fungus gnat larvae cause damage to plants by feeding on the roots. Fungus gnats can also spread plant fungal disease throughout a greenhouse on adults, and by larvae through the soil.
Signs and symptoms of fungus gnats include:
1. Adult Gnats: The most obvious sign is the presence of small, dark-colored flying insects around plants, especially when disturbed or when watering.
2. Gnat Larvae: Larvae of fungus gnats are small, translucent white worms (about 1/4 inch long) with black heads. They can sometimes be seen crawling on the soil surface or within the top layers of soil.
3. Root Damage: Fungus gnat larvae feed on organic matter in the soil, as well as plant roots. They may cause damage to the roots, leading to stunted growth and yellowing of leaves.
4. Wilting and Yellowing Leaves: Infested plants may exhibit symptoms such as wilting, yellowing, or drooping leaves, which can be indicative of root damage caused by fungus gnat larvae.
5. Reduced Plant Growth: Plants affected by fungus gnats may show reduced vigor and growth due to impaired root function and nutrient uptake.
To effectively manage fungus gnat infestations, it's important to address both the adult flies and the larvae in the soil. Implementing cultural practices like allowing the soil to dry out between waterings, removing organic debris from the soil surface, and using biological controls such as Hyper-Mites and Nemaplus.
Life Cycle
Females lay their eggs near the soil surface, and these hatch into six-legged larvae. There are two further nymph stages and a life cycle can be completed in 10 days at 25 C, but can vary from 7-30 days depending on temperature.
Environmental Conditions
Hyper-Mite™ survives well in most greenhouse conditions and is not harmed by regular watering, although flooded or waterlogged areas are not tolerated. Optimum conditions for development are 20-30 °C, and soil temperatures above 30 °C are harmful.
Hyper-Mite™ will survive in most potting mixes, rockwool and perlite.
Packaging
Hyper-Mite™ is supplied in a mixture of media and vermiculite with mould mites as a food source for the mites. There are a minimum of 10,000 predatory mites per litre of mixture.
Application Rates
| Greenhouse crops: | Low pest pressure: | 100 predators per metre squared | 1 litre per 100 square metres, or, 1 litre per cubic metre growing media |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher pest pressure: | 200 - 1000 predators per metre squared | 1 litre per 10 - 50 square metres | |
| Outdoor crops: | Use 20 litres per hectare |
Repeated applications may be needed for heavy pest infestations.
Release and Storage Instructions
Hyper-Mite™ need the following handling and treatment:
On arrival, release Hyper-Mite™ as soon as possible
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Hyper-Mite™ can be stored for a maximum of 2 days at 10-15 °C
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DO NOT REFRIGERATE
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Hyper-Mite™ should be sprinkled around the base of the infested plant, incorporated into the growing media before potting-up plants, or placed in a small pile on the rockwool or coir block.
Post Release
Hyper-Mite™ may take 2-3 weeks to exert an effect on pest populations. Hyper-Mite™ can be hard to find in soil or growing media, therefore monitor pest numbers to determine the need for further releases.
Re-application of Hyper-Mite™ is recommended to 'hot spots' should some pests remain.
Before introducing Hyper-Mite™ into your crop please check residual chemical affects and ensure you know chemical compatibilities of products that may be applied.
A list of compatible pesticides and withholding periods can be found in the publication 'The Good Bug Book' Second Edition (2002), Editor Richard Llewellyn.