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Re: More info about nematodes

Mike,

That sounds great!  Have you heard of anybody's experience with these
nematodes vs. borers?  Did you get an answer to your concern re.
earthworms?

--Chris Wilbers
Sioux Falls, SD (5 deg. F and falling :-( )

Mike Vangel wrote:
> 
> 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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