BioBestrijding | Nematodes against Sciarid flies ~ Steinernema feltiae

BioBestrijding Nematodes against Sciarid flies

Attention! This product consists of live animals and is only available for order in the Netherlands or Belgium. If you order more than just Bio Fight, there will be an additional charge of € 7.95 due to dropshipping from the supplier.

The Steinernema feltiae nematodes can be used as biological control agents for the larval stages of sciarid flies, thrips pupae and larvae of vine weevil.
They are supplied in mineral powder which is ready to be mixed with water. With this mixture you can easily spray the soil with a watering can.

Nematodes are effective against

The Steinernema feltiae nematodes are effective against the larvae and pupae of the following pests:

• In soil, Steinernema feltiae can control the larval stages of sciarid flies (ground flies, Sciaridae), pupae of thrips and larvae of vine weevil.
• Steinernema feltiae can also be applied to leaves. In that case they can control larvae and pupae of thrips.

What are Nematodes?

Nematodes are naturally occurring roundworms (Nematodes) in the soil. They are very small (0.3 to 0.7 mm) and therefore invisible. They are harmless to humans, animals and plants.

How does the control with nematodes work?

Nematodes live in the soil where they search for larvae and pupae of pest insects. They cannot control adults. There are many types of nematodes, each specifically targeting a particular type of host. They enter their prey and infect it with a bacterium from their intestinal tract. This bacterium multiplies inside the host and causes it to stop doing damage and eventually die. Nematodes then feed on these same bacteria which in turn causes them to multiply. A single insect larva can be the hotbed of as many as thousands of nematodes. The pest insects are thus attacked by a veritable army of nematodes. As soon as the host is killed, the nematodes leave it and go in search of new hosts. As long as there are preys in the soil the nematodes can sustain themselves and reproduce.

Temperature and Enviroment

The nematodes can be used at a soil temperature above 8 degrees. At a soil temperature below 4 degrees and above 34 degrees the deployment is not recommended. It is important that the nematodes are applied to a moist soil, it may not dry out for several weeks for optimal operation. Regular spraying during dry weather is a must. During or just before a rainstorm is an ideal moment to apply the nematodes. Caution, do not introduce during night frost.

Insert

When exactly to introduce the nematodes depends on the development stage of the host. Ideally, the host should be in a sensitive state so that the nematodes can easily penetrate the prey. Because nematodes only target the larvae and pupae of the pests, they are best released in late spring and early fall. We recommend around 500,000 nematodes per m2 for a light infection. In case of a larger infection you can increase this number to 1 million nematodes per m2. You can repeat this application after 2-3 weeks.

The introduction in case of foliar application goes as follows:

• Allow the nematodes to come to room temperature at least half an hour before deployment.
• Take a watering can with an opening of at least 0.5 mm. Remove any strainers/seals so the water comes out freely.
• Take a bucket and fill it with 5 to 10 liters of lukewarm water (15-20 degrees). Throw the whole pack of nematode powder into the bucket and stir it well so that no lumps are visible anymore. Then let the mixture soak for 5 minutes. After this stir well again.
• Advice is 250.000 nematodes per m2. You must therefore dilute the mixture of 10 liters in proportion so that you spray the right number of nematodes per m2.
• Spray the crop evenly with the mixture.

Shelf life

We recommend to use the nematodes as soon as possible after receipt. If you want to store them longer you can keep them in a refrigerator (2-8 degrees). On the packaging is the expiry date.

Please note! If you order more than just BioBestrijding, there will be € 7.95 extra charge because of the dropshipping from the supplier.