Hypoaspis miles (Stratiolaelaps scimitus) Soil-Dwelling Predatory Mite

What Hypoaspis miles Eats

Hypoaspis miles (Stratiolaelaps scimitus)

Primary target: Fungus gnat larvae. This is the pest H. miles predatory mites are best known for controlling, and the reason most growers add them to their setup in the first place.

Also targets:

• Thrips pupae: consumes thrips that pupate in the soil, making this a useful piece of a broader thrips IPM program.
• Some shore flies: feeds on shore fly eggs and larvae, though larvae can survive in very wet soil or standing water where H. miles is less effective. Consider Dalotia coriaria (rove beetle) for overly wet conditions.
• Springtails: preys on all life stages of springtails in the growing medium.
• Other soil-dwelling mites and small soil arthropods it encounters while foraging.
• Falls back on algae and organic debris when prey is scarce.

Hypoaspis miles (Stratiolaelaps scimitus) · How to Say It: hy-poh-AS-pis MY-leez / stray-tee-oh-LEE-laps SIM-ih-tus

A natural soil predatory mite for subsurface pests.

What Predatory Soil Mites Are

Hypoaspis miles, now classified as Stratiolaelaps scimitus, is a tiny, tan to light-brown predatory mite that lives in the upper layer of soil or growing medium where some pests live out their most vulnerable life stages. Like most soil-dwelling predatory mites, H. miles avoids light and stays buried rather than roaming across the surface in the open.

How Hypoaspis miles Works

Sold as a mix of eggs, nymphs, and adults in a bran or vermiculite-based carrier for direct application to the soil surface. H. miles burrows down and lives and hunts in the topmost layer of soil, moving quickly across the surface in low light conditions, or just beneath it in search of prey.

Reproduction is steady rather than explosive. Females lay eggs directly in the soil, and the full egg-to-adult cycle takes about 10 days to over a month, depending on temperature, faster in warmer soil and slower as conditions cool. Adults can live over two months, which means an established population keeps working long after the initial release.

When to Apply Hypoaspis miles

H. miles has no diapause phase, so it stays active and useful year-round rather than going dormant when daylight hours decrease, a genuine advantage for indoor growers and year-round greenhouse operations. That said, timing still matters for results:

• Preventive: Apply at transplant or at the beginning of a growing cycle.
• Early infestation: Apply when fungus gnats are first noticed.
• Heavy infestation: Use a heavier initial application and repeat as needed.

Pairing & Compatibility

• Under the soil: Compatible with Sf beneficial nematodes for fungus gnat, thrips pupae, and shore fly larvae control.
• Above the soil: Orius insidiosus (Minute Pirate Bug) and Amblyseius cucumeris target thrips once they've emerged from the soil onto foliage. The Thrips Control Garden Pack bundles the Minute Pirate Bug, A. cucumeris, and Sf nematodes.
• Sticky Traps: Thrips Trap Kit for adult thrips, or the Gnat Stix Traps / Arber Sticky Traps for adult fungus gnats.

Safe, Sustainable Pest Management

• Natural biological control with no synthetic pesticides
• They don't bite or sting and aren't harmful to people or pets when used as directed
• IPM-compatible
• No protective equipment required

CROPS
Vegetable Crops
Hemp
Soft Fruit Crops
Ornamental Crops

USAGES
Greenhouses
Indoor Facilities
Field Crops
Gardens

Application Rates for Hypoaspis miles

These are general starting points. Actual application should be adjusted based on pest pressure/species, plant type, and infestation severity.

Temperature

• Active from about 59°F, works best around 77°F, and develops up to about 86°F.
• Moisture: Keep soil moist, but not waterlogged.

How to Apply Hypoaspis miles

• Check your growing medium. It should be moist but not waterlogged, with a loose, open structure.
• Gently roll the container to redistribute mites evenly through the carrier material.
• For dry soil, lightly water the area 10–15 minutes before application. It should be moist, not overly wet.
• Apply directly to the moist soil surface around plant bases and areas with pest activity. Do not apply to foliage.
• Avoid overhead watering or heavy irrigation for 2–3 hours after application.
• Avoid broad-spectrum pesticide applications immediately before or after release.
• Monitor and reapply as needed.

What to Expect on Arrival

Don't worry if you open the container and don't see much movement on top of the carrier material right away. H. miles is photophobic and burrows away from light almost as soon as it's exposed. This is normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong with your shipment.

Predatory soil mites can be sluggish in cool temperatures. Allow the container to rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before checking for viability.

To Check Viability

• Quick check: Open the lid under normal room light and look closely right away. You'll see tan, poppy-seed-sized mites scurrying and burrowing away from the light. That movement alone is a good sign of a healthy, active shipment.
• Soft light check: Turn off nearby lights or move to a dim room for a few minutes, then use a flashlight covered with a paper towel or a piece of thin cloth. The softer light lets the mites stay out in the open longer so you can watch them move rather than just catching a glimpse before they dive for cover.
• You can also scoop a small spoonful of carrier material onto a sheet of white paper. Shine a flashlight across the paper at a low angle. You should see tan, poppy-seed-sized mites moving briskly across the white background within a minute or two.

Release as soon as you can. If you need to hold them, keep the container at 50–60°F, out of direct sunlight, for up to about 2 days. Avoid the refrigerator and warm spots like a sunny windowsill or near appliances.

What's the difference between Hypoaspis miles and Stratiolaelaps scimitus?
Nothing is different. Taxonomic research reclassified it from Hypoaspis miles to Stratiolaelaps scimitus. Only the scientific name changed, which is why you'll still see "Hypoaspis miles" on packaging and hear growers ask for it by that name.

Are Hypoaspis miles good or bad for my garden?
Good! They're a beneficial predator, not a pest. They don't feed on plants, roots, or foliage; they hunt other small soil-dwelling pests like fungus gnat larvae and springtails.

Can Hypoaspis miles become an infestation themselves?
Not likely. As prey populations decline, their numbers decline too. They can persist at low levels by feeding on algae and organic debris, but they don't multiply out of control the way a pest species would.

How do I apply Hypoaspis miles?
Distribute the carrier material directly onto the moist soil surface, never onto foliage, focusing on plant bases and any areas of known pest activity, then water lightly to help mites move into the soil.

Can I use Hypoaspis miles for snake, poultry, or varroa mites?
It works on the mites living and hiding in the substrate, not the mites attached and feeding on the snake, chicken, or bees. It's best understood as reducing the pest mites in the environment alongside whatever direct treatment the animal itself needs.

Are Hypoaspis miles safe in a worm bin or vermicomposting setup?
Yes. For established composting worms, H. miles is commonly used to knock down nuisance mites, gnats, and other small pests in worm bins without disrupting the worm population itself.

Can I use Hypoaspis miles in soilless media?
Yes, in coco coir and peat moss, as long as the medium stays moist and isn't waterlogged. Rockwool, clay pebbles and hydroponic setups aren't a good fit, since they don't hold a population.

Do Hypoaspis miles need supplemental food?
No supplemental feeding is needed. They hunt naturally available prey in the soil and can fall back on algae and organic plant debris between pest availability, which is part of why they persist well even at low pest pressure.

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