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  • From: "Dan Clost" <dan.clost@sympatico.ca>
  • To: "gardenwriters-on-gardening" <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Japanese Beetle Defense
  • Date: Tue, 25 Jan 2005 12:02:58 -0500

Hi Esther,
Those are some good questions. I'd like to respond from a commercial point of view.
What zone are you in?
I'm in Cdn Zone 4b/5a depending on what map is being used.

We find that the difficulty in applying nematodes is customer knowledge. The two main points though seem to be timing and calibration.
We take of the first by only offering the little critters when the soil temperature is right.
We take care of the second by discussions with the customer, zeroing in on what ever container/pump/sprinkling system they are going to use.

As to effectiveness: we have 3 points
The first is to determine that the customer has actually seen JB in the area they wish to treat and to discuss thresholds. ( If they haven't seen the JB or taken a quick count they would have no idea if a. it was JB, or b.was damage being caused by JB)
The second is that they keep records so that they can determine the effects of their treatment programme.
The third is perhaps questionable but it goes to human nature as opposed to mother nature.
Some folks feel they have just got to do something, ill-considered or not. And they are going to do something, whether they purchase product at our store or at another. I would much rather sell a sponge of nematodes than a bag of carbaryl.

Re harshness of winter and efficacy of nematodes: You can say the same thing for any sort of intervention.


What does IIRC mean?

Dan




----- Original Message ----- From: "eczekalski" <>
To: "'gardenwriters-on-gardening'" <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 11:36 AM
Subject: RE: [gwl-g] Jap Beetle Defense


I thought that the nematodes were difficult to apply properly because (IIRC)
they only act at certain stages of insect development and under particular
weather conditions. Also, the adult beetles may come from anywhere, not
just the yard that you own and can spray.

Since the beetle populations have seemed to vary with the harshness of our
winters, it's hard to tell if the nematodes have had any effect.

Esther Czekalski

-----Original Message-----
From: gwl-g-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:gwl-g-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Doreen Howard
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 11:22 AM
To: gardenwriters-on-gardening
Subject: Re: [gwl-g] Jap Beetle Defense

Miranda Smith wrote:

Some formulations of beneficial nematodes include species that prey on
Japanese Beetle larvae. They are a better bet than milky spore in cooler
climates. Apply them in the spring--they will find the grubs. They do
not overwinter well, but they are effective enough so that a couple of
years of applying them usually does the trick.

Where do you find these nematodes? Web site, catalog, garden center??

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