Dalotia coriaria, the greenhouse rove beetle, 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.
Biological control Dalotia coriaria is a commercially available species, sold by several Integrated Pest Management companies in the US 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.; 2013: Life History Characteristics of the Rove Beetle, Dalotia coriaria (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) under Laboratory Conditions. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 86(2): :145-154. The species was discovered feeding on a laboratory culture of fungus gnats, stimulating a study into its efficacy as a biological control agent.; ; ; 2002: The Potential of Atheta coriaria Kraatz (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), as a Biological Control Agent for Use in Greenhouse Crops. IOBC/WPRS Bull, 139: 37-40.
Use as a model organism
Dalotia coriaria's fast generation time, high fecundity and ease of culture of have recently led to the species being developed as a laboratory model organism.; ; 2013: Development of the adult abdominal defensive gland in Atheta coriaria Kraatz: a key innovation for ecological and biological success (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae). Entomological Society of America meeting abstract link
Taxonomic history Like many Aleocharinae, Dalotia coriaria has a complex taxonomic history. Initially described as a member of genus Homalota, (1856): Naturgeschichte der Insecten Deutschlands. Erste Abteilung. Coleoptera. Bd. 2. Lief. 1–2. Verlag der Nicolaischen Buchhandlung, Berlin, pp. 1–376. many authors placed it in the large genus Atheta, before its current placement in Dalotia. (2003): Revision of some types of North American aleocharines (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), with synonymic notes. Zootaxa 353 pp. 1–134.
References
External links