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More info about nematodes

I called an organic gardening shop in St. Louis, 
The Bug Store, and they sell the "predatory
carnivorous" nematodes for $15 (that will treat
2000 sq. ft.).  The clerk claimed that the
nematodes would decimate the larvae/pupae of
squash vine borers and cucumber beetles in the
soil. (http://www.bugstore.com/nematodes.html).
 
Here's what their web site says:
Beneficial Nematodes
What do fleas, grubs, Mexican bean beetles,
and squash vine borers have in common? 

They all begin life in the soil, and they all pass
through a larval stage before they become
destructive adults. This makes them (and a host
of other garden pests) vulnerable to attack from
predatory nematodes.

A predatory nematode is a nearly microscopic
organism which parasitizes the larva of other
insects. It is strictly carnivorous and will not
harm plant life in any way. These tiny creatures
are a gardener's first and best defense against
hundreds of pests. Unlike chemicals, they will
not harm the beneficial earthworms present in
your soil.

We sell nematodes in a juvenile stage. They are
covered with a protective chitin layer which
makes them resistant to chemicals in the soil.
Nematodes can survive up to two years in this
stage. In an oxygen-rich, warm, moist
environment, the nematodes emerge and seek
out pests. Each nematode enters a pest body
where it injects the host with a bacteria which
kills and preserves it. Once adult size, it lays
eggs. As many as 200,000 nematodes can be
produced from a single large host such as a
grub. If food gets scarce, the eggs will develop
into juveniles rather than adults and will disperse
to seek out more food. Like a heat-seeking
missile, these juveniles detect hosts by
temperature or by the presence of methane
gas. Their life is one big search and destroy
mission.

Application is simple. One million nematodes
come packaged in a sponge about 2" x 3".
Soaking the sponge in a gallon of water
releases the nematodes. This water can then be
applied with a sprayer (either hose-end type or
tank) or even a watering can. 

Timing is everything. For the best results, two or
three applications are recommended. This will
assure the presence of nematodes in the soil at
the critical stages in pest insect reproductive
cycles. We recommend a first application when
the ground warms up in the spring around the
time when plants are being set out. Nematodes
can be used on flower gardens, vegetable
gardens, and on lawns. They are completely
harmless to people, plants, and pets. 

Nematodes work best in a moist environment.
They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to
a month, but once they are dispersed in water,
they should be used within an hour to prevent
drowning. After application, the soil should be
kept moist to provide the best possible
conditions for nematode survival. 

Visit our order form for additional information.
Order Desk: (800)455-BUGS (10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Central Time, Sun 12-5) Email:
bugstore@mo.net Snail mail: The Bug Store 118
W. Argonne, St. Louis MO 63122  

Mike in Missouri (not affiliated with the bug
store)
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