Dalotia coriaria - Rove Beetle

Rove Beetles are "search and destroy" hunters that actively pursue pests rather than waiting for them. They are widely considered the most effective biological control for Shore Flies, a pest that many other predators ignore.

• Primary Targets: Fungus Gnat larvae, Shore Fly eggs/larvae, and Thrips pupae (soil stage).
• Secondary Targets: Root Aphids, Springtails, and general soil decomposers.
• Behavior: Both the adult beetles and their larvae are predatory. The adults fly to find food, while the larvae aggressively hunt through the soil structure.

Rove Beetles are highly adaptable but establish best in environments with "living soil" characteristics.

• Temperature: Active between 55°F - 80°F (12°C - 27°C).
• Substrate: They require moist organic media (soil, coco, peat, moss) to reproduce and lay eggs.
• Food Source: Because they are high-metabolism hunters, they thrive best when there is a steady food source (pests) or organic matter to scavenge.
• Light Sensitivity: They are nocturnal and sensitive to bright light. They will naturally hide under leaves or in the soil during the day.

Not sure if Rove Beetles are the right choice for your setup? Here is how to decide between the different options.

• Choose Rove Beetles (The Flyer): If you have a large grow tent, greenhouse, or disconnected plant shelves. Their ability to fly allows them to colonize your entire room from a single release point. They are also the superior choice if Shore Flies are your main problem.
• Choose Stratiolaelaps (The Crawler): If you need a "set it and forget it" preventative for small pots or reptile tanks where flight is not needed. Mites are generally better at staying put in a specific container.
• Choose Nematodes (The Bomb): If you need an immediate knockdown of a massive infestation. Nematodes work faster but do not persist as long as beetles.
• The "One-Two Punch": For serious infestations (especially Root Aphids), use Rove Beetles and Mites together. The Beetles handle the bulk hunting and flying adults, while the Mites clean up the soil depth.

Rove Beetles move fast and hide quickly, so release them carefully.

• Prep: Turn down intense grow lights during release to prevent them from flying toward the bulbs.
• Release Method: Open the bottle and gently tap small "piles" of the carrier mix onto the soil surface or rockwool block.
• Critical Step: Do not spread the mix thin. Keeping them in small piles (breeding centers) helps them find mates and establish a colony immediately.
• Placement: Place piles near the base of plants, near drain holes, or in corners of grow beds where pests congregate.
• Maintenance: Avoid watering directly over the release piles for 24 hours to let them burrow into the soil.

Packaging: Shipped in bottles or tubes containing a peat/vermiculite carrier. They generally ship 2-day express.

Viability: The bottle contains a mix of life stages: Adults (beetles), Larvae (thin worms), and Pupae.

Storage: Rove Beetles are high-energy and have a shorter shelf life.

Release immediately. If necessary, store at 50-60°F for no more than 18 hours.

Yes, they fly to hunt, but they prefer to stay near the soil where the food is. They are beneficial insects, not pests, and will naturally die off or disperse once their food source (the pests) is eliminated. They do not infest furniture or pantries.

No! Those are the Rove Beetle larvae. They look like tiny, pale worms with a darker head. They are just as ferocious as the adults and do a significant amount of the hunting in the soil.

Yes. Dalotia coriaria are harmless to vertebrates. In bioactive enclosures, they are a premium "Clean Up Crew" member because they eat mold, fungus, and rotting organic matter in addition to pests.

When threatened, Rove Beetles curl their abdomen up like a scorpion. This is purely a bluff to look scary! They do not have a stinger and cannot bite or harm humans.

Use caution. Because Rove Beetles fly, they can get caught on yellow sticky traps. We recommend removing sticky traps for 7–10 days after release to allow the beetles to establish. Afterward, place traps higher up (away from the soil line) to catch adult gnats without trapping your beetles.

The total lifecycle is about 21 days from egg to adult, and adults live for another 3–4 weeks. However, because they reproduce quickly, a single release can establish a permanent colony as long as there is food available.