Atheta coriaria or Rove beetle (Dalotia coriaria)
Atheta coriaria or Rove beetle (Dalotia coriaria are used primarily to assist in the control of shore flies and fungus gnats and other small arthropods in the soil or planting media. They also help control soil stages of thrips and feed on most other small soil organisms such as moth flies, springtails, and root mealybugs.
It has been used successfully in vegetable, bedding and potted plant production and seedling and cutting propagation. Atheta adapts well to the various growth media (including rockwool and coconut fiber) and capillary mats used in plant production. They will not survive freezing or flooding conditions.
1 - 5 per 10 square feet
Target Pests: Shore flies (Ephydridae), fungus gnats (Sciaridae), western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), root aphids
Description: Atheta coriaria or Rove beetle (Dalotia coriaria), formerly known as Atheta coriaria, is a native species of a soil-dwelling rove beetle which feeds on small insects and mites. Both adults and larvae are active aggressive predators and are attracted to decomposing plant or animal material and algae, where their hosts are found. While they are beetles, they do not necessarily look like beetles. They are light to dark brown in color, with adults being 3-4 mm long. They are slender with short wing covers. Rove beetles have an interesting habit of curving their abdomen upwards like scorpions and can run or fly when disturbed (usually close to the ground). Since they can actively fly, they rapidly colonize the release area. However, too many Atheta in flight may be because of disturbance to their home.
Use in Biological Control: Rove beetles are used primarily to assist in the control of shore flies and fungus gnats and other small arthropods in the soil or planting media. They also help control soil stages of thrips and feed on most other small soil organisms such as moth flies, springtails, and root mealybugs.
It has been used successfully in vegetable, bedding and potted plant production and seedling and cutting propagation. Atheta adapts well to the various growth media (including rockwool and coconut fiber) and capillary mats used in plant production. They will not survive freezing or flooding conditions.
Life Cycle: The complete life cycle of rove beetles is 21 days at 70°F (21°C), with relative humidity between 40 and 99%. The sex ratio is an equal, 1:1 females to males. Eggs hatch in 3-4 days into larvae, which resemble adults. Pupal chambers are constructed out of silk. Each adult rove beetle consumes 10-20 prey per day. In greenhouse conditions, adults are non-diapausing and can be used year round.
For Best Results: Rove beetle is most effective when applications are started before fungus gnat population becomes well established or while numbers are still low (less than one seen in a trap, per week). One application of Atheta per crop cycle is usually sufficient if started early in the season. Because rove beetle has a longer life cycle and takes longer to establish than the Stratiolaelaps predatory mite, so should be used along with Stratiolaelaps for best results.
Introduction Rates: Rove beetle is most effective when applications are started before fungus gnat populations become well established or while numbers are still low (below 10 per trap, per week). One application of rove beetle per crop cycle is usually sufficient if started early in the season. For soil culture, sawdust bag, or rockwool culture, apply 1 per 10 ft2 (1 m 2 ).
Release throughout the greenhouse at a rate of 100- 1,000 per greenhouse weekly or biweekly, depending on greenhouse history of shore flies and fungus gnats. To ensure reproduction and mating, release 50-100 in one spot in the center of the release area. Be sure to treat areas with wet, exposed areas of soil where fungus gnats and shore flies are likely to breed.
