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

Product Description

STRATIOforce™ is the soil-dwelling predatory mite Stratiolaelaps scimitus, used to prevent, control, and manage fungus gnats and the soil-pupating stages of certain thrips. It lives and hunts in the top layer of soil and media, cleaning up pests before they emerge as adults. An underrated benefit is its appetite for thrips pupae — using S. scimitus alone has been shown to cut western flower thrips populations by around 43%. Use it in vegetable, soft fruit, and ornamental crops, and hemp/cannabis.

What it targets

• Fungus Gnat spp.
• Thrips spp. (soil-pupating stages)
• Some Shore Fly spp.
• Springtails and other soil pests

Crops it supports

Vegetable crops, soft fruits, ornamental crops, and hemp/cannabis — in greenhouses, indoor facilities, fields, and gardens.

How Stratiolaelaps scimitus controls soil pests

These mites live in the top half-inch of soil and media, where fungus gnat larvae and thrips pupae and pre-pupae develop, and feed on them directly. Their affinity for thrips pupae makes them a valuable part of a layered thrips program, working below the canopy while foliar predators work above it.

Release Rates

Friable floors, potting mix, and other surfaces should be treated as well — not just the planting media.

Cannabis Alert: Release rate suggestions on these pages are usually not sufficient for cannabis growers. For cannabis release rates, contact us.

Release Instructions

From a bottle: Gently rotate the bottle to distribute the mites evenly within the carrier. Unscrew the lid, remove the filter paper, put the lid back on, and tap the mites out of the bottle evenly onto the soil. Concentrate the bulk at release points near the most heavily infested or active breeding areas. Leave the empty bottle, cap removed, in the treatment area for 24 hours so all mites can exit.

From a bag: Gently rotate the bag to distribute the mites within the carrier, then open it at the seal and sprinkle the contents evenly onto slightly damp growing media, soil, or ground cover using the dispensing scoop. Use a higher concentration in hot spots. These mites should also be released onto dirt and gravel floors, around greenhouse weeds, and under benches and ground covers — anywhere fungus gnat larvae and pupae or thrips pupae and pre-pupae may develop.

Storage: The product can be stored at 50–60°F for about two days. The bottles and bags ship with a food source; once it runs out the mites will start attacking each other, so release promptly. Store the bottles on their side with the filter paper up to give the mites more surface area.

Monitoring: The potato test works well — place a slice of potato on the soil to attract fungus gnat larvae and their predators, and check it after a few days.