Beneficial Insectary is now producing Dalotia (=Atheta) coriaria at its California facility — the predatory rove beetle that anchors most fungus-gnat and shore-fly biocontrol programs. The new domestic line, marketed as Dalotia-C, ships in units of 500, 1,000, or 3,000 adults.
Domestic production of Dalotia (=Atheta) coriaria shortens transit time for North American growers and delivers fresher beetles for release. The species is a foundational tool in greenhouse, indoor, and propagation IPM programs — an aggressive soil-surface predator that targets several of the most damaging pests in modern crop production.
What Dalotia-C controls
The rove beetle hunts at the soil/substrate interface and consumes a wide range of soil-dwelling pests, including:
- Sciarids (fungus gnats): Lycoriella spp., Sciara spp., Bradysia spp., and members of the Mycetophilidae family.
- Shore flies: Scatella spp. and members of the Ephydridae family.
- Thrips pupae: western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), flower thrips (F. tritici), and other species that drop to the substrate to pupate.
- Springtails: members of the Collembola family.
- Moth fly larvae: members of the Psychodidae family.
That breadth makes Dalotia-C a true cornerstone predator — a single release works on several soil-stage pests at once, simplifying release schedules in mixed-pest situations.
Why the soil stage matters
Many of the most disruptive greenhouse pests — western flower thrips, in particular — spend a significant portion of their life cycle in the soil. Above-ground predators like Amblyseius cucumeris handle the foliar stages, but without a soil-side predator the population simply rebuilds from the substrate. Dalotia-C closes that loop, complementing programs that already include Stratiolaelaps scimitus and beneficial nematodes for full soil coverage.
Format and availability
The new U.S.-produced Dalotia-C line ships in three pack sizes:
- 500 adults — spot treatments and trial programs.
- 1,000 adults — standard preventative release sizing.
- 3,000 adults — larger areas and hot-spot remediation.
For release rates, application timing, and integration with other Beneficial Insectary predators, contact your regional Green Methods representative.