How many beneficial nematodes

On sprayer use a maximum pressure to avoid blockage, all sieves should be removed. Evenly spread the spraying solutions over the ground area to be treated. Continuous mixing should take place to prevent the nematodes from sinking to the bottom. After application keep the soil moist during the first two weeks for the nematodes to get establish.

For a small garden the best method is using a simple sprinkling or water can to apply the Beneficial nematodes to the soil. Apply nematodes before setting out transplants; for other pest insects, Japanese Beetles and grubs, apply whenever symptomatic damage from insects is detected. Best to apply water first if soil is dry.

Application and amount for 50 and Mil. The 50 Mil. You can use a watering can, pump sprayer; hose end sprayer and irrigation system, backpack sprayers, or motorized sprayer. The 10 Mil. Nematodes mix 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. Nematodes you can use up to Gallons of water. Evenly spread the solution over the ground areas to be treated. Continuous mixing should take place to prevent the nematodes from sinking to the bottom of the container.

To avoid blockages, remove all filters from the sprayer. You can sprinkle the soil with water again after application to move the nematodes into the soil.

Apply nematodes as soon as possible for best product performance. Keep the soil most for the first week after application. Proper storage and handling is essential to nematode health. Always follow the package instructions for the best method of mixing nematodes. Formulations vary depending on the species and target insect. Nematodes can be stored in the refrigerator up to a month not the freezer before they are mixed with water, but once the nematodes are diluted in water, they cannot be stored.

Nematodes need moisture in the soil for movement if the soil is too dry or compact, they may not able to search out hosts and high humidity if they are used against foliage pests. Watering the insect-infested area before and after applying nematodes keeps the soil moist and helps move them deeper into the soil. Care should be taken not to soak the area because nematodes in too much water cannot infect. Exposure to UV light or very high temperatures can kill nematodes. Apply nematodes in the early evening or late afternoon when soil temps are lower and UV incidence is lower as well cloudy or rainy days are good too.

In most cases, there is no need for special application equipment. Most nematodes species are compatible with pressurized, mist, electrostatic, fan and aerial sprayers! Hose-end sprayers, pump sprayers, and watering cans are effective applicators as well. Nematodes are even applied through irrigation systems on some crops. Check the label of the nematode species to use the best application method. Repeat applications if the insect is in the soil for a longer period of time.

There is no need for masks or specialized safety equipment. Insect parasitic nematodes are safe for plants and animals worms, birds, pets, children. Because they leave no residues, application can be made anytime before a harvest and there is no re-entry time after application. How to use beneficial nematodes: For the home gardener, localized spraying is probably the quickest and easiest way to get the nematodes into the soil.

Producers ship beneficial nematodes in the form of dry granules, powder type clay, and sponges. All of these dissolve in water and release the millions of nematodes. Each nematode ready to start searching for an insect in your lawn or garden. Nematodes should be sprayed on infested areas at the time when pests is in the soil. Timing is important, or else you will have to repeat the application. Northern gardeners should apply the nematodes in the spring, summer and fall, when the soil contains insect larvae.

Most of the beneficial nematodes are adaptive to cold weather. If your insect pest returns the following year, another application may be necessary. Nematodes, due to their microscopic nature have limited range of movement. How are Beneficial Nematodes Shipped? Remove nematode tray s and sleeves from insulated shipping container or packaging and place in refrigerator until ready to use. The Beneficial Nematodes are shipped in an easily dissolved formulation that you mix with water.

Cranshaw and R. Zimmerman with Colorado State University. Call us at with questions. We look forward to speaking with you! Subscribe to be the first to hear about sales, promotions and special offers. Cannot be combined with other coupons, discounts and flash sales.

Not valid on Fly Eliminators or Gift Certificates. Please enter a valid email address. Online orders may take hours to process excluding holidays and weekends. Plan Ahead: Holiday Shipping Schedule. Fly Eliminators. Beneficial Nematodes are microscopic, non-segmented roundworms that occur naturally in soil throughout the world.

The nematodes enter the larvae via the mouth, anus, respiratory openings, or directly through the body wall of the pest. Next, nematodes eject their bacteria inside the pest's body.

Though there is no insect immunity to the bacteria, some insects, particularly beneficial insects, are possibly less parasitized because nematodes are less likely to encounter beneficials which are often very active and escape nematode penetration by quickly moving away.

Finally, there is no evidence that parasitic nematodes or their symbiotic bacteria can develop in vertebrates. This makes nematode use for insect pest control safe and environmentally friendly.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA has ruled that nematodes are exempt from registration because they occur naturally and require no genetic modification by man. What are the target insects? Experiments have shown that beneficial nematodes can reduce the populations of a variety of ornamental and turf pests.

Control has been reported for the larvae of black vine weevil; strawberry root weevil; the clearwing borer Synanthedon culiciformis in alder and S. White grubs Japanese beetle, oriental beetles, chafer beetles, June beetle and Ataenius are also controlled by this nematode. Turf larval pests controlled include surface pests such as cutworms, sod webworms and dog and cat flea larvae; and the soil inhabiting pests billbugs and crane fly can be controlled with Steinernema carpocapsea nematodes.

Nematodes can be used on these and other pests as long as proper application procedures are used and the environmental conditions are favorable. It is important to select the proper nematode species when trying to control a particular pest. The heterorhabditid nematodes prefer a moister soil and tend to go deeper into the soil profile 3" to 6".

Nematodes should be applied at the first sign that a pest population is causing damage. If nematodes are definitely going to be used during the growing season and can be stored for up to six months under proper conditions, it is best to order them ahead of time so that they are in stock before the damaging stages of particular pests arrive. Reapplying nematodes depends on the success of the first nematodes released. Their survivorship and success are based on environmental conditions and soil type, increases in original pest population, and percentage of living nematodes actually released during the first application.

Nematodes should be reapplied on seven-day intervals if damage continues. Problems associated with nematode use. Though nematodes can be an effective and safe pest management options, there are limitations to their use. The first is related to their manufacture and storage.

It is difficult to synchronize the development of infective juveniles under laboratory conditions. Also, the nematodes must be shipped in the proper media and stored at the correct temperature. Thus, it is a good practice to check the percent viability of a package of nematodes before applying them. Showing the number of nematodes required to treat different sizes [area in sq ft sq M ] of lawns or fields Nematode species Area in sq ft sq meter 1 0.

Biological control of turfgrass armyworms with beneficial nematodes Bugs for Growers 30 July at pm [ Bugs for Growers: Protect honey bee hives from small hive beetle with Heterorhabditis indica Bugs for Growers 26 September at pm [