DALOTIAforce™ (500/ 1,000/ 3,000/ 5,000)
Bottle of 500
$69.95
Sale price
$69.95
Regular price
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DALOTIAforce™ (500/ 1,000/ 3,000/ 5,000)
$69.95
Sale price
$69.95
Regular price
- Buy 2+: $50.30
SKU: DC5
Order by Thursday at 11AM PST to receive the following week.
Product Description
DALOTIAforce™ is the predatory rove beetle Dalotia coriaria (=Atheta coriaria), which lives mostly in the top half-inch of soil and media and clears soil-stage pests. Both the adults and larvae hunt fungus gnats, shore flies, and the soil-pupating stages of certain thrips. The very mobile adults crawl and fly from pot to pot, eating pests along the way, and they stay effective even in soilless hydroponic greenhouses. Use it in ornamentals, hemp/cannabis, covered crops, and mushrooms.
What it targets
- Fungus Gnats
- Shore Flies
- Certain thrips species that pupate in soil or on the ground
Crops it supports
Ornamentals, hemp/cannabis, covered crops, and mushrooms — in greenhouses, indoor facilities, fields, and gardens.
How Dalotia coriaria controls soil pests
The adult beetles are highly mobile, crawling or flying from pot to pot and from one area of the greenhouse to another, eating pests all along the way. Because they hunt in the top layer of soil and media where fungus gnat and shore fly larvae and soil-pupating thrips develop, they remain effective even in hydroponic greenhouses with no soil.
Release Rates
| Classification | Release Information |
|---|---|
| Prevention or Light Infestations | 0.2 per sq. ft. Calculate only the soil/media surface area, since that is where they live. If the crop is transplanted, release again at half the rate. |
| Hot Spots | Up to 1 per sq. ft. |
Release Instructions
Release timing: It is best to release these beetles at sundown. Water the media no sooner than ten minutes before releasing, and wait a couple of hours before watering again after release.
From a bottle: Gently rotate the shaker tube to distribute the beetles evenly within the carrier, then open the bottle in the crop and gently tap the contents out throughout the target area.
From a bulk bag: Open the bag in the crop area and use the included scoop to distribute the beetles throughout the target area.
Where to release: They can also be released onto dirt or gravel floors, greenhouse weeds, under benches and ground covers, and anywhere fungus gnat or shore fly larvae, or thrips pupae and pre-pupae, may develop. Leave the bottle or bag in the treatment area for 24 hours so all beetles have exited.
Storage: Do not store the beetles for more than two days. Hold at 45–55°F in high humidity, keeping the bottle or bag on its side to give the beetles more surface area.
Monitoring: They are primarily nocturnal but can sometimes be seen during the day, often on the soil surface, on rockwool, or climbing the facility’s walls. High populations can be counted on sticky cards. The potato test also works: place a slice of potato in the soil to attract both fungus gnat larvae and their predators, and Dalotia can often be found near it after a few days.
Advisories: While Dalotia can and should be used in most hemp/cannabis grows, overpopulation can lead the beetles to climb the plants and get stuck to the buds in flower — one of the few cases where there can be too many biocontrol agents. Do not exceed the recommended rate in hemp/cannabis, and keep a close eye on the population.
Life Cycle
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Egg | At 26°C, eggs take just over two days to hatch |
| Larva & pupa | Larvae live around seven days before pupating. They are yellow in color, with six legs towards the front of their bodies and short antennae — the legs and antennae distinguish them from other worm-like organisms living in the soil. Pupal stage duration: around 8 days |
| Adult | Adult females can live approximately 48 days and adult males approximately 60 days. Adults are black, slender, between 3–4 mm long, and resemble tiny earwigs more than beetles. Their elytra (leathery hind wings) are truncated, meaning they stop around a quarter of the way down the body — a characteristic that all rove beetles share |
Disclosures
Live product: Beneficial Insectary strives to guarantee the live delivery of the freshest organisms to our customers. We offer replacements or credits for any compromised shipments to our customers that report any issues or concerns within 24 hours. These issues or concerns must be relayed before releasing any organisms that are suspected of having viability issues. Please do not discard the product. You may be requested to return the shipment for further analysis.
Establishment of BCAs in crop settings: Many variables can negatively or positively impact BCA and pest populations in the various crops we work with — pesticide applications, watering practices, improper storage methods, and cultural, physical, or mechanical controls among them. Some beneficial organisms require a steady pest presence as a food source to build their population. Others may require alternate food sources, such as pollen or nectar. Others still have specific photoperiod requirements for success. Due to these variables, we cannot guarantee the long- or short-term establishment of the BCAs we sell after the release of the organisms. We will not offer refunds, discounts, or other credits on products that have already been released. Please adhere to our live-product disclosure above.