BeneficialFungus gnat
Soil predatory mite, sold as Macro-Mite for fungus gnat
Macrocheles robustulus · predatory mite
Against fungus gnat
Koppert sells it against sciarid eggs, larvae and pupae in moist, organic media and describes the effect as slow but steady. It needs compost above 15 °C and no standing water. No US retail source was found, so in North America Stratiolaelaps scimitus does the same job.
Rate100–500 /m² per release, repeated once or twice
TimingPreventively, or at the first gnats
TemperatureAbove 59 °F (15 °C); media moist, loose and rich in organic matter
macro · soil predatory mite, sold as macro-mite on fungus gnat
The pestFungus gnatBradysia spp.Larvae chewing roots in wet mediaFull pest profile →Before you order
Spread over moist, organic media, where it hunts fungus gnat stages and thrips pupae in and on the soil and at the base of stems. Sold by Koppert in Europe and some other markets and by Dragonfli in the UK; no US retail listing was found. How it works, how to tell it has established and the supplier list are on the full Macrocheles robustulus profile.
Release calculator
How many do I need?
Area and infestation level in; quantity, cost and a weekly schedule out. Open the calculator →
Other controls for fungus gnat
- Steinernema feltiaeNematode · 250k–500k /m² of compost surface; about 5 million per 25 houseplants
- Stratiolaelaps scimitusPredatory mite · 100–500 /m² of compost surface (Dragonfli: 100 preventive, 500 on a heavy infestation)
- Bacillus thuringiensis israelensisMicrobial insecticide · Label rate — Gnatrol home label 1–1.5 tsp per gallon of water as a soil drench, wetting the compost surface; Mosquito Bits sprinkled over the compost and watered in
- Rove beetlesWild predator · Nothing to release — the greenhouse species Dalotia coriaria is the one sold
- Dalotia coriariaPredatory rove beetle · 0.1–2 /sq ft (about 1–22 /m²); suppliers differ