Are predatory insects plaguing your garden ?
While there are many types of beneficial roundworm , insecticidal 1 are naturally occurring microscopic organisms that live and feed on insects in the dirt .
There are unlike type of nematodes that kill insects . However , many of them are difficult to mass bring forth or have very minute innkeeper ranges .
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The good nematode that we will mouth about here are entomopathogenic . This full term derives from the Greek wordentomon , or insect , and morbific , or disease - causation .
What makes these dirt ball - killing nematodes special is that they shoot down their hosts quickly , due to special bacterium that live in their systems .
In direct contrast to the nematodes you are plausibly used to thinking of that parasitize plant and animal , these beneficial type can be a great avail to your garden .
And in a fantastic gift from nature , insecticidal nematodes will down pests that feed on plant while typically ignoringbeneficial insects .
These enthralling organisms can help check up to 200 dissimilar metal money of insect from 100 dissimilar families . That ’s pretty wide - ranging coverage .
Here ’s what ’s to come in this article :
What You’ll Learn
countenance ’s mouth more about what they are before we get into how you may apply them , and where to buy them .
good nematodes offer a safe form of constitutional pest control for use in the garden . So safe , in fact , that the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) even waived the need for them to be registered for pesterer direction .
Not only are they safe for habit around pets and people , they are ideal for discourse of soils like those around drinking Herbert George Wells that are sensitive to traditional pesticide .
Unlike chemical pesticides , and even thebiopesticideBt , you do n’t need to utilise anyspecial equipment or even a maskto hold these creatures to your garden .
And you could expend your exist equipment – hosiery and spray are no problem for them .
Different Types and Behavior
There are two genera of nematode worm that are pop as marketable products to protect your garden .
The first genus isSteinernema – the most usually sell genus for insect tribute .
The second genus , Heterorhabditis , is more difficult to farm for commercial-grade sale . However , these coinage are highly in force for eradicatinginsects that live deeply in the grime , peculiarly chuck worm .
They are fascinating little organisms that go through six stage of life .
First is the eggs stage . Next , they go through four juvenile stages before in conclusion reaching the grownup stage .
Those in the third adolescent stage , known as “ infectious juvenile person ” ( IJ ) , or sometimes dauers , are the most resistant to environmental accent .
This is the only stage in their sprightliness cycle in which they will seek out insects to toss off , and boy are they active !
Some sit and wait for prey to exit by . These types are fuck as “ ambusher , ” and are peculiarly effective against insect that move around in the soil . An example isS. carpocapsae .
Some species ofSteinernemajump to assail their prey – sometimes up to nine times the distance of their body !
The other types are screw as “ cruisers ” because they are highly active and can move long distances to find their target underground .
H. bacteriophorais a pleasure boat . This behavior makes it highly effective against pests like white grubs that do n’t move around much .
Some coinage , such asS. feltiaeandS. riobrave , immix the two type of behaviors .
Nematodes change of location via piss between molecule of filth and identify their prey by monitoring changes in the carbon paper dioxide levels , temperature mutant , and sometimes by excretory product trails .
Once the prey is identified , it enters the chosen insect through a instinctive opening in its body like the mouth , anus , or spiracle ( openings that are used to emanate carbon dioxide ) .
Species in the genusHeterorhabditiscan actually infiltrate the torso of an insect through the cuticle if there are no other selection to enter their quarry .
You ’ve probably notice that these cat are pretty aggressive . Once inside , the unlike species act in basically the same mode .
They unblock a stock of bacteria that lives inside their digestive organization . These bacteria will rapidly manifold and vote out the dirt ball within 24 to 48 60 minutes .
The unlike types each carry their own special bacterium – XenorhabdusforSteinernemaandPhotorhabdusforHeterorhabditis .
The interaction between the nematode worm and their bacteria are symbiotic , meaning each being helps the other out .
The nematodes locate and record the host , provide a home for the bacteria . In rally , the bacterium weaken the insect ’s resistant system . And they bring on chemicals that kill the insect as well .
Another affair that the bacterium do is release chemical substance that are toxic to other microbes . This ensures that the nematode can outride in their new home base full of nutrient - full-bodied food without experience to campaign off foreign invader .
Steinernemaspecies need both male and female nematode worm to reproduce , while those ofHeterorhabditisare hermaphroditic and bring forth offspring solely through females who have both male and distaff procreative organs .
Once the nematode worm is inside its insect host ’s trunk , it begins to reproduce . The baby flourish and grow by exhaust the nourishing tissue paper of the host insect and the utter bacterium .
When the insides of the host insect have been ware and in full utilize , C of chiliad of nematodes in their juvenile phase emerge and start out hunting for their next meal .
If you have introduced good nematodes in your garden , you may see if they are being in force by digging through the ground to reckon for eats . You want to witness grubs that are discolored .
worm round byHeterorhabditisare ordinarily orange - red , while those parasitized bySteinernemaare typically skim to dark brown .
The rationality these insect produce such unpaired colors is due to remnants of the pigment from the bacteria that grew inside them .
This may seem weird , but you should also smell the dead insect . They should not have a putrid smell . If they do , that intend they were killed by other types of nematodes in the soil , and not the ones you introduced .
Identification, Biology, Distribution, and Life Cycle
Nematodes are ordinarily between 0.6 and two millimeters long , with a cylindrical shape and an nonsegmental tinea soundbox .
Steinernemaincludes the more shallow - habitation , less roving types , whileHeterorhabditisspecies are more roving , moving and hunting up to seven inches deep in the soil .
It ’s important to recollect that they move by traveling in the water in the spaces between speck of soil . They often move more efficaciously in sandy soils compared to clay because the stoma in the soil are larger .
Free H2O is critical to the efficacy of your beneficial nematode flack plan!Irrigating before you applywill assist them to command pests for a number of rationality :
Next , let ’s take a feeling at the insect pestis that these organism target .
Nematode Prey
The two specie ofSteinernemamost commonly used in blighter treatment includeS. feltiaeandS. carpocapsae . These case assault insects that are near to the surface of the soil , hunting to a depth of about three column inch .
S. feltiaeis highly effective at controlling pests like fungus gnat and fly larvae , and it will also parasitize some types of caterpillar larvae . This species acts most effectively in clay or silt soils .
S. carpocapsaeattacks mobile louse , so it acts as an excellent tool for check caterpillar larvae . These fair game include such ravening plague ascutworms , armyworms , and webworms .
S. carpocapsaeis particularly utile against insect on the open of the land , which is where the Lepidopteran pests tend to be . It is most effective in sandy soils .
S. riobraveis another commercially available species in this genus . It has an unusually wide boniface range that spans unlike club of insects and is usually sold to control weevils and seawall crickets . This coinage aggregate the characteristic of an ambusher and a cruiser .
Two metal money ofHeterorhabditisare also commercially available , and neither of these species is fussy about soil type . Since these nematodes follow pests so profoundly in the solid ground , they are used to control grubs like those of the Nipponese mallet that live deeply in the dirt .
H. bacteriophorais very various in its choice of master of ceremonies . It can attack both caterpillar and beetle larvae . It is also extremely effective againstroot weevils .
The otherHeterorhabditisspecies that is ordinarily sold isH. indica . This specie will also attack a range of insect , let in caterpillars and beetle larvae , weevils , fungus gnats , andthrips .
Choosing the Right Nematode for Your Climate
While you want to choose the correct species to control the finical pesterer you are dealing with , you also involve to consider the temperature of your soil during the growing season .
Some prefer raging weather , while others are effective at lower temperatures .
Those in the genusHeterorhabditisare fans of blistering weather . H. indicais particularly heat tolerant and can parasitize insects when the soil temperature is 86 ° atomic number 9 or even mellow .
H. bacteriophorais also a quick - temperature species and is much less effective at soil temperatures less than 68 ° fluorine .
Species of the genusSteinernemavary in their temperature preference . S. riobraveis active in a wide range of temperature , from 59 to 95 ° farad .
Originally isolated in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas , this species can even tolerate semi - desiccate atmospheric condition .
S. feltiaeis unique among the insecticidal nematodes that are commonly used because it is combat-ready at temperatures as low as 50 ° F .
In contrast , S. carpocapsaeis the most good at dirt temps between 72 and 82 ° F .
Benefits
One world of choose nematodes for plague ascendency is that their action is not immediate , although it is quite in force over clock time . The first host insects will begin to die after 24 to 48 hours of diligence .
We have to be realistic about the behaviour and timeline of these beneficial creatures . Now that they have infiltrate their insect hosts , they are feed and multiply , preparing the next generation .
They will stay on to hunt and stay combat-ready unless they run out of food , or the temperature get down too red-hot or cold for them . As with any organic direction drill , you should scout and compensate close attending to item .
Do n’t be afraid to get your hand marked-up .
Spend some metre digging in your garden , front for infected grubs and larva . Note what you see . supervise before you put on your beneficial nematodes , 48 to 72 hours after you ’ve employ them , and then a hebdomad or two later .
This is a holistic access that will take sentence to make change in your garden . Note other broker in the garden like ground temperature on a day-after-day basis , and how that correlates with your findings .
Application and Use
Now you may be wondering how to use these utilitarian little organisms in your garden ! They can be applied to your veg garden , decorative beds , containers , lawn , or forage .
While we are focusing on soilborne insects , insecticidal roundworm are sometimes apply to plants above the ground as well – to decimate leafminers in plant tissue paper , for example .
name the pesterer or pest you ’d like to kill , and appraise based on the behavior of each species we ’ve talked about .
For example , is your butt pest a shallow - dweller or a deep diver ? What temperature is the soil where your mark pest is living ? Is the soil compact or sandy ?
The size of the area that you will be treat affects the issue of nematodes you will need to purchase . For example , you would buy 5 million of them to treat 1,600 straight feet of ground , and50 million to address an Accho .
If your industrial plant are develop in containers or a greenhouse , you may call for to practice high numbers .
Nematodes are very sensitive to ultraviolet light , so you should apply them in the morning or evening to head off direct sunshine .
Applying in the evening is particularly crucial in the summertime when the surface of the soil could be too raging for them to survive . grease temperatures will be scummy at dusk .
A lean of many of the insects controlled by unremarkably sold mintage follow , but this is by no means a complete digest .
After answering these question , you will have a more clear mind of which nematode coinage to pick out .
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Is Not Required
Applying these beneficial organism to your garden is unproblematic . No major protective gearing is required .
If you prefer a small length , you may wear gloves , but it ’s not substantive . These organisms are even safe to utilise thanBtand pose no risk of toxicity .
How Do They Look When They Arrive?
You will usually find your nematodes in the form of a gel , remains , ironical granule , or water - filled sponge . All of these form will dissolve in urine . Just follow the packet directions .
If you need organic credentials , you should be aware that nematode worm send in granule or clay may not be certify constitutive .
And do n’t be alarmed if you have a bag of dead worm ! good nematodes are often trade while they are inside their insect hosts . Wax mealworms are a unwashed reservoir of commercially available insecticidal nematodes .
In this case , you just scatter them on the primer coat where you want them to act , and the juveniles will emerge .
Timing
utilize when the time is right . Make certain to do your preparation and obtain the target pest so that those good nematode have something to eat .
The good metre to use is in the spring or fall , when most of the insect you ’ll be direct are in their larval phase . You desire to focalize on the larvae because they are still in the ground and therefore vulnerable to plan of attack .
For example , decline is the best time to hold white eats like weevil larvae .
If you ’re in dubiousness about the spirit cycle of your target pest , you’re able to always reach out to your local lengthiness delegacy and inquire for more information on the specific pestis in interrogative .
Compatibility with Garden Chemicals
amazingly , juvenile insecticidal nematode are compatible with many types of garden chemical . They can even be tank - desegregate with most antifungal and herbicides .
fertilizer are typically not a problem , unless you are using fresh manure or high concentration of chemical plant food like urea .
These organism can even tolerate many insect powder , like organophosphate such as diazinon , although the common insecticide carbaryl ( Sevin ) is middling toxic .
you could wait one to two week to lend oneself your insecticidal nematodes if you are not sure if your selected chemical insecticide is compatible with these organisms .
computer software labels will typically cater the information you need to be intimate regarding which chemicals your chosen coinage is compatible with .
Irrigation: Keep the Soil Moist
Pay tending to the wet capacity of your soil . It is a skilful estimate to thoroughly irrigate it before you employ .
After lotion , go ahead and water again to rinse any nematodes off the leave-taking of plants in the area , and down into the soil closer to their targets .
This is peculiarly important if you are handle greensward with a white-hot chow problem . The boneheaded thatch can make it unmanageable for the nematodes to penetrate the territory .
Watering after program will help the organism travel through the thatch to get down to the soil where the grubs are .
Once you ’ve give them , you want to keep your soil moist for the next brace of week to ensure they can stay on combat-ready and keep killing those nettlesome insect larvae ! If it does n’t rain , you should irrigate every three to four days .
How to Physically Apply
To apply the nematodes , you could use a lacrimation can if you are direct a small area . For larger areas , you could use a pump nebuliser , end - hose sprayer , irrigation system , backpack spray , or motorize sprayer .
The easiest way to utilize them is by using a hosiery end spray that controls the dose apply .
verify to agitate the commixture of good roundworm and water so that they are evenly diffuse from whatever sprayer you are using . The nematodes have a tendency to settle if they are not mixed properly .
One note of carefulness : be careful if you use a hydraulic ticker with gamey inner and shear forces . They can shred your nematodes !
you’re able to expect to see result within two hebdomad .
Reapplication
After the initial coating , you should utilise again in seven to 10 days to ensure there are enough insecticidal roundworm to set on the population of your target louse .
If you still have gadfly , keep applying the being every seven to 10 day until the pest populations dwindle .
think that if you have a universe of insects that has built up over the course of years , it is probable to take more than one coating to contain them .
The likelihood of your nematode worm go the winter bet on your climate . They can typically exist one hard freeze . However , protract hard freezes can belt down them .
Even if you live in a balmy climate , you should reapply a newly purchased mass of nematodes in the spring . You will need a high universe of them present to effectively assault your pest .
Storage
The amount of sentence that the roundworm can be stored varies according to the specie . S. carpocapsaesurvives well in a dessicated state and can be store for several months at way temperature . However , other type such asH. indicahave a brusque ledge life .
Your roundworm should be shipped to you in an insulated container . Typically , they can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks or even calendar month . Since they are sensitive to uttermost temperature , verify they do n’t freeze out .
And keep them away from in high spirits temperatures ! Temperatures over 90 ° atomic number 9 will kill most insecticidal nematodes , so be sure not to leave them in a hot vehicle or gay position .
Where to Buy
you could often find packages of good nematodes at your local garden center or works nursery .
Alternatively , there are a variety of on-line sources as well . Many of these will be listed under a brand name , so you ’ll need to check the specific coinage before purchase .
Steinernema carpocapsae
S. carpocapsaeis available as NemAttack ™ Sc or BioLogic Sc .
NemAttack ™ Sc
you may find NemAttack ™ Sc in packages of 5 million to 500 millionavailable at Arbico Organics .
Biologic Sc is available in packages of 5 million to 25 millionvia Amazon .
Steinernema feltiae
Steinernema feltiaeis available as NemAttack Sf or Biologic Sf .
Biologic Sf
you could find Biologic Sf in packages of 5 to 25 millionavailable from Biologic via Amazon .
Arbico Organics carriespackages of NemAttack ™ Sf containing 5 to 500 million nematode .
Steinernema riobrave
Steinernema riobraveis sell as NemAttack ™ Sr .
NemAttack ™ Sr
chance packages contain 5 millionS. riobraveavailable at Arbico Organics .
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora
Heterorhabditis bacteriophorais sold under the stain name NemaSeek ™ Hb .
NemaSeek ™ Hb
pluck up packages of 5 million to 500 millionfrom Arbico Organics .
Heterorhabditis indica
NemaSeek ™ Hi contains the speciesHeterorhabditis indica .
NemaSeek ™ Hawaii
Find packages containing 5 millionavailable from Arbico Organics .
Get Growing with Nematodes
Beneficial roundworm can put up your home garden immense perks .
You have a wealth of choices available , which will allow you target the pests you desire to keep in line , while account for your case of grease and the ambient grime temperature .
These wonderful picayune being declare oneself capital aegis for your horticulture space and are totally safe for consumption in proximity to man , other animals , and even beneficial insects .
Now that you know how they operate , append them to your garden , and look on your pests dissipate !
And for more entropy oncontrolling pestsin your garden , learn out these guide next :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally published April 24 , 2019 . Last updated June 9 , 2021 . Product photos via Arbico Organics and BioLogic . Uncredited exposure : Shutterstock . retool and expatiate from a version originally written by Alexis Morin . With additional writing and editing by Allison Sidhu and Clare Groom .
About
Helga George , Ph.D.
