Hypoaspis miles - FAQs

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.