BioBestrijding | Predatory mite against Springtail ~ Hypoaspis Miles

BioBestrijding Control Predatory Mite against Springtail

Attention! This product consists of live animals and is only available for order in the Netherlands or Belgium. If you order more than just Bio Fight, there will be an additional charge of € 7.95 due to dropshipping from the supplier.

Springtails (Collembola) belong to a class of six potted insects that total over 8,000 described species. They all have mouthparts that lie in a pouch inside the head and form a separate group from the insects. Almost all of them have a forked tail, which allows them to jump away when in danger. From this fact they derive their Dutch name. Most springtails are about 5 mm in size, but there are also smaller species. They always have 6 legs and a pair of antennae.

Different species of Springtails live near water and on land. Most species live in the upper litter layer of the soil and feed on decaying plant material and fungi. They can develop huge populations of sometimes thousands of individuals per square meter. Eggs are laid in the litter layer and, depending on the temperature, hatch after a few days or weeks. The young springtails hide in the litter and develop rapidly. Because their skin does not grow with them, they must molt several times to reach the adult stage. The adult specimens also continue to molt from time to time. This causes them to secrete waste products that they cannot get rid of in any other way. Springtails can be a few months to a year old.

When fighting springtails one focuses in most cases on the adults. The effect of these controls is usually insufficient. This is because the development of the springtails takes place in the ground where the agents used do not reach or have insufficient effect. Half a day after a treatment, it may occur that already new specimens migrate from the soil to the plant. The effect of a treatment is therefore often disappointing. In addition, repeated control often results in resistance to the substances used, so that the effect is in any case disappointing. A real solution cannot be found in the chemical field. We will have to focus on the development of the pest to get a better effect of our efforts.

Life style Hypoaspis Miles

An adult Hypoaspis predatory mite lives an average of 6 weeks and is active at temperatures from 10C to 28C. The sex ratio is equal to 1:1, females and males. If there is enough to eat, the females lay eggs frequently. The eggs hatch within 2-3 days and the young Hypoaspis nymphs are born. These young nymphs are fierce predators immediately after birth consuming eggs, larvae and pupae of springtails. Each adult Stratiolaelaps can consume 1 to 5 prey items per day. The Hypoaspis population can also survive in the absence of pests. In this case, they feed on algae and plant debris. However, if necessary, the Hypoaspis miles population can also go up to 7 weeks without food by going into a resting phase.

How many predatory mites do you need?

These predatory mites are delivered in a package with scatter material containing eggs, young and adult predatory mites. A package with 2500 predatory mites is sufficient for about 10 square meters depending on how much you suffer from springtails. We generally recommend 250 to 500 predatory mites per square meter. After one to two weeks a maintenance dose of another 250 predatory mites per square meter is recommended.

Air humidity and temperature

Optimal humidity is between 60% and 70%. The Hypoaspis predatory mites are active from 10 degrees but only come into action at a soil temperature of 15 degrees and above. The optimum temperature is between 20 and 30 degrees. 26 degrees is the most ideal for the development.

Releasing instructions

• Introduce Hypoaspis miles preventively or as soon as possible after the first appearance of spring tails.
• Upon receipt, release as soon as possible, predatory mites are not durable.
• Open the bag containing the litter and predatory mites. Spread the material evenly over the (slightly) damp soil/ground of the plants.
• It is advisable to leave the package in the room for a few days (approx. two days) so that the eggs and predatory mites that are left behind have a chance to develop.

Storage advice

Biological beneficials are living animals and have a (very) short lifespan. They should therefore be introduced into the crop as soon as possible after receipt. Storage can negatively influence the quality and is only possible under the conditions mentioned below.

• Storage life: 1-2 days
• Storage temperature: 8-10C
• Store in the dark and flat