Tags: Arachnid.
Hypoaspis miles is a small (0.5 mm) light brown mite that lives in the top ½ in layer of soil. As a natural predator of fungus gnat pupae and snail parasite Riccardoella aspersa it is used by gardeners for biological pest control.Hypoaspis miles and the similar species H. aculiefer are soil-dwelling predatory mites. Hypoaspis mites feed on fungus gnats springtails thrips pupae and other small insects in the soil. The mite is 0.5 mm (1/50 inch) long and light-brown in color.