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nafex - RE: [NAFEX] Sugar that's not so sweet

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  • From: "Stephen Sadler" <Docshiva@Docshiva.org>
  • To: "'North American Fruit Explorers'" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: RE: [NAFEX] Sugar that's not so sweet
  • Date: Thu, 2 Jun 2005 14:01:45 -0700

Symphylans are very dissimilar to nematodes, and are unaffected by other
non-cultural nematode controls. They do have enemies, but their enemies
(some centipedes and spiders) are not attracted to sugar.

There's no compelling reason to think that a sugar solution would have a
direct or indirect effect. However, at this point, organic researchers are
trying nearly everything, and I think someone should give this a try.

So far rotation and flooding are the cultural controls. Rather than having
an entire plot of grass, one might want to have maybe 25% of the land
planted with Piper Sudan grass to reduce symphalans and nematodes while
improving tilth. There are some reports that potatoes repel the pests even
after the potatoes are rotated; but potatoes are also reported as a common
host plant, so go figure...it could just be that the deep tillage that comes
as a result of potato harvesting disrupts their environment.

They're an organic bane, as everything you would do to improve soil and crop
health is also inviting to them. Flooding kills many, but increases soil
humidity, which they like. Sudan grass starves them, but increases organic
matter in the soil - which makes them happy. Frequent tilling disrupts
them, but also disrupts their predators. The conditions that make their
predators happy also favor the symphylans.

Stephen Sadler, Ph.D.
USDA 9, AHS heat zone 8,
Sacramento CA - Mediterranean climate


-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Mark Lee
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2005 1:32 PM
To: 'North American Fruit Explorers'
Subject: RE: [NAFEX] Sugar that's not so sweet

The garden symphylan, Scutigerella immaculate, is a pest that thrives in
organic vegetable gardens in the Northwest. They are closely related to
centipedes and millipedes. Other than insecticides, the only way to
deal with these is to have two plots. One plot is for vegetables and
the other is for grass. The plots are rotated every 3 years. I wonder
if symphylans could be controlled with sugar?
-Mark Lee, Seattle







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