Sciarid flies belong to the family Sciaridae. The species that cause the most damage among the genera Bradysia, Lycoriella and Sciara.

Especially the kind of massive Bradysia paupera may occur in greenhouses.

The eggs are laid in the soil. The four larval instar feed not only on rotting plant material, algae and fungi that are present in the soil, but also on the plant’s roots which reduce the water and nutrients intake of the plant.

Pupation also take place in the soil wherefrom the winged adults emerge.

Moreover, the larvae can transfer mites, nematodes, viruses and fungal spores. Infection usually occurs from a fresh, new potting soil, kept wet which often larvae or eggs of sciarid flies come.

Adult sciarid flies are often seen as dansing flies above the soil.

sciarid flies

Sciarid flies

characteristics: sciarid flies species are very similar, adult insects are 1-5 mm long, black-gray insect with long legs, Larvae are 5-12 mm wide with a distinctive black head and legs, their body is white translucent, only occur in the vicinity of wet places, pupae are 2-5 mm long, white at first but later yellow-brown, death of (young) plants usually occurs in spots

natural enemies: Hypoaspis spp, Steinernema feltiae, Macrocheles robustulus

hosts: No preference for particular plant species but a moist humus-rich environment

natural enemies

Hypoaspis
Macrocheles
Steinernema