Hypoaspis miles

Taxobox | name = "Hypoaspis miles"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
subclassis = Acari
ordo = Parasitiformes
familia = Laelapidae
subfamilia = Hypoaspidinae
genus = "Hypoaspis"
species = "H. miles"
binomial = "Hypoaspis miles"
binomial_authority = Berlese, 1892

"Hypoaspis miles" is a small (½ mm) light brown mite that lives in the top ½ in layer of soil. As a natural predator of fungus gnat pupae, it is used by gardeners for biological pest control.

"Hypoaspis miles" and the similar species, "H. aculiefer" are soil-dwelling, predatory mites. "Hypoaspis" mites feed on fungus gnats, springtails, thrips pupae, and other small insects in the soil. The mite is 0.5 mm (1/50 inch) long and light-brown in color. It inhabits the top 1/2 inch layer of soil. Females lay eggs in the soil which hatch into nymphs in 1 to 2 days. Nymphs develop into adults in 5 to 6 days. The lifecycle takes approximately 7 to 11 days. Both nymphs and adults feed on soil-inhabiting pests, consuming up to 5 prey per day. They may survive by feeding on algae and/or plant debris when insects aren't available. Both males and females are present, but males are smaller and rarely seen.

"Hypoaspis" is well adapted to moist conditions in greenhouses in a variety of growing media, but does not tolerate standing water. "Hypoaspis" is currently used in greenhouses for control of fungus gnats. It feeds on fungus gnat eggs and small larvae and is most effective when applied before fungus gnat populations become established or when populations are low. It has been successfully used in bedding plant production, potted plants, and poinsettia stock plants. "Hypoaspsis" will also attack thrips pupae in the soil, but cannot be relied on for thrips control alone in a commercial greenhouse. It may, however, enchance biological control when used in conjunction with predators feeding on thrips on the foliage. In small-scale experiments this mite reduced emergence of adult thrips to about 30% of that in controls. The mite comes in a pasteurized peat mixture for commercial use.

External links

* [http://www.petsnails.co.uk/documents/hypoaspis_miles.html Using "Hypoaspis miles" to rid snails and slugs of pests such as "Riccardoella limacum"]