Posts Tagged ‘grass’

Terrie Greco, B.A.; HLT Dip.

Hi folks!  Welcome back for the scoop on how beneficial nematodes work. Beneficial nematodes are natural organisms that seek out destructive lawn grubs.

The battle that takes place below the soil line rivals any horror or sci-fi movie.  Refresher – beneficial nematodes are effective in controlling Japanese Beetle, European Chafer and June Beetle grubs (grubs are the larval stage of the beetles). Grubs chew the roots of grass plants as they make their way to the surface to prepare for their emergence as adults.  Brown patches on the lawn, turf that can be lifted easily, and signs of digging skunks are all indicators that these invaders are making short order of your grass.

Nematodes, once introduced into the lawn, seek out grubs by detecting carbon dioxide, excretory products and temperature changes from the grubs.  Talk about a sophisticated radar system!  The grubs don’t have a chance!

 The third larval stage of the nematode enters the grub through a body opening – mouth, spiracles, anus – get the picture?  It’s not a pretty one.  Some species can also pierce the body wall of the grub. These are war games – and nematodes have the upper hand!

Once the nematodes have set up ‘housekeeping’ inside the grub, they release bacteria into the body of the grub host.  These bacteria break down the body tissue inside the grub – providing ‘grub soup’ for the young nematodes.  When the nematodes reach a certain level of maturity, they exit the body of the grub and move on to a new host – and so the battle continues!  Thank goodness they’re on our side!

The key to successful control is time and method of application.

Stay tuned for: Part 3 – Successful Application of Beneficial Nematodes

Terrie Greco, B.A.; HLT Dip.

Although I realize that Biofloris has posted much background and advice already on the value of using beneficial nematodes to control grubs – it cannot be stressed enough that this is one of the most effective, safest and natural controls that homeowners can use to rid their lawns of such a destructive pest.

The first rule of turf war – know your enemy! Take a look at the following link:

 http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/facts/08-023w.htm 

Identification of grub damage in your lawn is easy –mammals dig up areas looking for a tasty feast, patches of lawn appear brown, and your neighbours crack jokes about your lawn looking like a war zone.  If you can lift up areas of your lawn just like a piece of carpet – that’s the clincher – grubs are running amuck underfoot.  After lifting that ‘lawn carpet’ you will see small white ‘c’ shaped beetle larva in the exposed soil.

Three types of beetle larva commonly infest lawns – Japanese Beetle, European Chafer and June Beetle.  The grubs over winter deep in the soil and slowly move up as soil temperatures begin to rise – feeding voraciously on the tender roots of your turf plants.  The grubs are experiencing the last hurrah of insect puberty before they transform into an adult and leave the soil to mate and lay eggs.

How can you destroy these invaders?  Call in the Nematode Brigade – the special forces of the underworld.  Beneficial nematodes have an amazing capacity to control certain grub pests – but there are strict application guidelines to follow if success is expected.  Misapplication and subsequent failure only encourages the non-believers into telling you they won’t work.

Make no mistake – they do work! How nematodes actually destroy and control grubs is the stuff sci-fi movies are made of. 

Stay tuned for Part 2 – Turf Wars –The Rules of Combat