STRATIOforce™ – soil-dwelling predatory mites (12,500/ 25,000/ 125,000)

Product Description

Stratiolaelaps scimitus: Predatory Soil Mites That Hunt Pests at the Source

STRATIOforce predatory soil mites — Stratiolaelaps scimitus, formerly sold as Hypoaspis miles — live and breed in the top half-inch of soil, where they hunt the pest stages most foliar sprays never reach. These tan, fast-moving mites are about 0.25 mm and feed on fungus gnat larvae, soil-pupating thrips, springtails, and some shore fly species. They thrive in old soil, moist peat, compost, decomposing leaves, and the root zones of hydroponic systems, which makes them a natural fit for greenhouses, indoor facilities, fields, and gardens.

How STRATIOforce Predatory Mites Work

Once spread on the medium, the mites get straight to work patrolling the soil surface and upper root zone. They attack pests at vulnerable early stages — eating fungus gnat larvae and thrips pupae before either can mature into the next damaging generation. Because they reproduce in the soil (females lay 2–3 eggs per day, and larvae hatch in just 1–3 days), a release builds a self-sustaining population that keeps working as long as prey and moisture are present. That persistence is the difference from a spray: instead of a single knockdown, you get standing protection that holds the line between crop cycles.

What STRATIOforce Targets and Where to Use It

STRATIOforce controls fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.), thrips species that pupate in the soil such as western flower thrips, springtails, some shore flies, and other soil-dwelling pests. It supports vegetable crops, soft fruits, ornamentals, and hemp, and performs well in greenhouses, interior plantscapes, and houseplants — with strong field reports from outdoor nursery growers too. As a soil-stage specialist it pairs cleanly with foliar beneficials like predatory mites and minute pirate bugs for a layered program that covers both the canopy and the root zone.

Easy Application Instructions

Apply soon after delivery for the best establishment. Gently rotate and shake the bottle or tub to distribute the mites through the peat-and-vermiculite carrier, then sprinkle the material evenly across the soil surface or growing medium — not onto plastic or bench tops. The medium should be moist but not waterlogged before release, since these mites need humidity at the soil surface to move and reproduce. Keep material off the stem base, and apply early in the crop cycle for prevention rather than waiting for an outbreak.

Monitoring and Knowing It’s Working

Track fungus gnat adults with yellow sticky cards placed just above the canopy and at the soil line, and count weekly to see the trend. Potato-disc checks on the medium surface help you confirm larvae are dropping after release. The mites themselves are visible to a sharp eye — tan, quick, and moving across moist soil. Falling gnat counts on your cards over two to three weeks is the signal the population has taken hold.

Key Features

• Soil-Stage Specialist: Targets fungus gnat larvae and soil-pupating thrips where sprays can’t reach — in the growing medium itself.
• Self-Sustaining Population: Reproduces in the soil and keeps hunting as long as prey and moisture last, reducing repeat treatments.
• Broad Soil-Pest Diet: Also feeds on springtails and some shore fly species, adding general cleanup to your root zone.
• Chemical-Free Control: No pesticides or residues, so it fits organic programs and protects beneficial soil life.
• Wide Crop Range: Supports vegetables, soft fruits, ornamentals, and hemp across greenhouses, interiors, fields, and gardens.
• Easy Broadcast Application: Lab-reared adults ship in a peat/vermiculite carrier for quick, even distribution over the medium.
• Pairs With Other Beneficials: Combines with foliar predators for a layered, whole-plant IPM approach.

Storage, Handling, and Advisories

These are living predators, so handle the container gently and apply as soon as you can. If you must hold them, keep the bottle at cool temperatures (around 45–55°F) for no more than a day or two, out of direct sun, and never let them freeze; store the container on its side. Once released, avoid soil drenches — heavy drenching interferes with mite reproduction and can knock back the population you just established. Read all product labeling, follow local regulations, and stick to the directions for reliable results.

Product Specifications