Nematode Nick's Landscaping

A Beautiful Yard Naturally

Beneficial Nematodes

 

What about Beneficial Nematodes, how they work and what pest they control, is a question I hear all the time.  Beneficial Nematodes are microscopic non-segmented parasitic flat worms.  There us many different varieties some are harmful but most are beneficial.  Beneficial Nematodes control insects by locating a host and actually enter the host and kill it by several ways.  One method of kill is to introduce a pathogen into the host, another way is when they enter the host they leave a wound that can become infected or cause dehydration or they can reproduce when inside the host and kill it by crowding it out from the inside. The offspring will then exit the host in infect another host insects to continue that cycle.  Beneficial Nematodes can survive for 90 days with out feeding with good conditions.   Beneficial nematodes come in two ways either freeze dried or alive on a sponge that must stay refrigerated until use.  In my opinion the Beneficial Nematodes on the sponge or the best to use.  Read the label thoroughly to insure you have the correct amount of Beneficial Nematodes for the square footage to cover.

 

Application of the nematodes begins by rinsing the Beneficial Nematodes off of the sponge into a bowl with about a quart of clear water, be sure to rinse all of the Beneficial Nematodes off the sponge.  Then use this as a concentrate in an applicator.  Hose-end sprayers, pump sprayers and even a sprinkler-can is an acceptable means of application.  I find it helpful to water the area first prior to application then water directly after application to rinse them into the soil.  During particularly dry and or hot times I recommend watering the area with about ½ inch of water for the next 2 or 3 days.

 

The following is a partial list of insects the Beneficial Nematodes will kill.  Keep in mind that the

Beneficial Nematodes are specific in what they kill and will not harm beneficial insects.

 

Japanese beetle grubs, White grubs, Army worms Cut worms, Looper worms Root worms, Web worms ones found in turf) Chinch bugs, Fungus gnats, Bark beetle, Banded cucumber beetle, click beetle, Colorado potato bug, Flea beetle, June beetle, fruit flies, Crickets, Imported fire ants, Thrips, Fleas, Ticks and many more.

 

Beneficial nematodes are an excellent biological pest control tool; it is harmless to people, pets and beneficial insects.  Do keep in mind that the control takes time as the Beneficial Nematodes

must locate the host insect and have time for them to work.