Predator mites?

[TekWarren]

This is something new to me I saw on another site but apparently there is a species of mite that will kill/consume other mites. Apparently some people are using Hypoaspis mites to get rid of other insect infestations including some other species of mites...including those which reptiles can get. From the article I was reading it is said this mite will even destroy or consume other mite eggs. Once that mite infestion is completely destroyed the Hypoaspis mite will die off itself as there is no food source.

It sounded interesting and would definately be a non-toxic way to go but I wonder if anyone has actually had experience with this method or what you have heard?

Here is a site with more info: http://www.defenders.co.uk/sciarid_fly_control.htm

Please note I am not having mite issues myself, this just cought my attention and interest.

[Schlyne]

I've never needed to order the predatory mites myself. However, people have used it with great success in the arachnid hobbyist area. I've never heard of it working on reptile mites, but I don't know anybody who has tried it.

[OSU_Snake keeper]

I've heard of these on other reptile sites, though I really can't remember where. Also I can't find anyone who would ship to the US.

[firehop]

Hey,

We tried Preditory Mites on our Corn and Burm. I wasnt happy with the success and went with Provent-a-mite that I got from Bob at the Chicago Herp Society. He uses it with great sucess on all of his rescues. BIG THING THOUGH----- you cannot use it even in the same room as aracnids ( sorry I probably butchered the spelling...Uh....Spiders). It will kill them dead. It worked great on the snakes though. One treatment of the cage and all the mites went bye bye. I guess I probably could have gave the mites a little more time to work but I didnt want the snakes to suffer.

Rick
______________________________________
1.1 100%het for pied Ball Pythons, 0.1 66% poss het for pied Ball Python, 0.3 Red Tail Boas, 1.0 het for albino and 66% stripe, 1.0 Burmese Python, 1.0 Snow Corn, 0.1 albino Corn, 1.0 JCP, 0.2 Green Iguanas, 0.0.1 Egyptian Uromastyx, 0.0.1 Cooters Turtle, 0.1 Bearded Dragon, 0.1 golden Lab

[Schlyne]

Hey,

We tried Preditory Mites on our Corn and Burm. I wasnt happy with the success and went with Provent-a-mite that I got from Bob at the Chicago Herp Society. He uses it with great sucess on all of his rescues. BIG THING THOUGH----- you cannot use it even in the same room as aracnids ( sorry I probably butchered the spelling...Uh....Spiders). It will kill them dead. It

It's arachnids

[wildlifewarrior]

I had a buddy who used them on his herps with mixed results, i think he said it was too expensive compared to like PAM or other topical treatments.


~mike

[Schlyne]

The predatory mites probably just aren't able to keep up with how quickly reptile mites move and spread.