Kingdom Animalia Family Staphylinidae Phylum Arthropoda Order Beetle | Class Insecta Genus Dalotia Rank Species | |
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Similar Beetle, Hypoaspis miles, Vexing rove beetles, Hypoaspis, Stratiolaelaps | ||
The Greenhouse Rove Beetle (Dalotia coriaria) is a species of staphylinid rove beetle in the subfamily Aleocharinae. It is used as a predatory biological control agent for the management of pest insects.
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Biological control
Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz, 1856) is a commercially available species, sold by several Integrated Pest Management companies in the USA and Europe. The beetles are employed as a biological control agent of glasshouse pests. Both adults and larvae prey upon larvae of fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.), and adult beetles also target shore flies (Scatella spp.) and thrips. The species was discovered feeding on a laboratory culture of fungus gnats, stimulating a study into its efficacy as a biological control agent.
Use as a model organism
Dalotia's fast generation time, high fecundity and ease of culture of have recently led to the species being developed as a laboratory model organism.
Taxonomic history
Like many Aleocharinae, Dalotia coriaria has a complex taxonomic history. Initially described a member of Homalota, many authors placed it in the large genus Atheta, before its current placement in Dalotia.
