The adult beetles are very mobile. They will crawl or fly from pot to pot and from one area of the greenhouse to another, eating pests all along the way. They are very effective even in hydroponic greenhouses with no soil.

Do not store the beetles for more than two days. 

Hold at 45-55°F in high humidity. 

Keeping the bottle or bag on its side provides more surface area for the beetles.

It is best to release these beetles at sundown.

Water the media no sooner than ten minutes before releasing these beetles and wait a couple of hours before watering after the release.

Bottle:

1 – Gently rotate the shaker tube to distribute the beetles evenly within the carrier to release.

2 – Next, open the bottle in the crop area and gently tap the contents out throughout the target area.

Bulk Bag:

1 – Open the bag in the crop area and use a scoop (one should be included in your shipment) to distribute the beetles throughout the target area.

These beetles may also be released onto dirt, gravel floors, greenhouse weeds, under benches and ground covers, and any place fungus gnat/shore fly larvae or thrips pupae and pre-pupae may develop.

Leave the bottle or bag in the treatment area 24 hours after release to ensure all beetles have exited.

Keep in mind that they are primarily nocturnal, but they can sometimes be found running around during the day. They’re often found on the soil surface or Rockwool or even climbing the facility’s walls.

If populations are exceptionally high, they can also be counted on sticky cards.

The potato test is also viable for them. Place a slice of potato in the soil, and this will attract both fungus gnat larvae and their predators. Dalotia can sometimes be found on or near the potato slice after a couple/few days.

While they can and should be used in most hemp/cannabis grows, overpopulation of Dalotia can result in them climbing the plants and getting stuck to the buds in the flower. This is one of the only situations where there can be too many biocontrol agents. Do not use higher than the recommended rate of Dalotia in hemp/cannabis, and keep a close eye on the population.

Live-Product: Beneficial Insectary strives to guarantee the live delivery of the freshest organisms to our customers. We offer replacements or credits for any compromised shipments to our customers that report any issues or concerns within 24 hours. These issues or concerns must be relayed before releasing any organisms that are suspected of having viability issues. Please do not discard the product. You may be requested to return the shipment for further analysis.

Establishment of BCAs in Crop Settings: Many variables can negatively or positively impact BCA and pest populations in various crops we work with (pesticide applications, watering practices, improper storage methods, cultural/physical/mechanical controls, etc.). Some beneficial organisms require a steady pest presence as a food source to build their population. Others may require alternate food sources, such as pollen or nectar as an example. While other BCAs have specific photoperiod requirements for success. Due to these variables, we cannot guarantee the long- or short-term establishment of the BCAs we sell after the release of the organism(s). We will not offer refunds, discounts, or other credits on products that have already been released. Please adhere to our “Live-Product” disclosure.