A Drench Of 50 Million Nematodes

2 Packets of Nemasys L

The dreaded vine weevil has been mentioned in the blog on two previous occasions, see blog entry 27th July 2012 'Vine Weevil Damage' and 11th November 2009 'Vine Weevil'. The chosen method for treatment against this pest has been the use of a systemic insecticide, see blog entry 1st October 2013 'Root Drench Against Vine Weevil', but today this has changed. This insecticide contains the neonicotinoid thiacloprid which has been linked to the reduction in the honey bee immune system so a biological control, Nemasys L, containing the nematode Steinernema kraussei has been chosen to protect the plants against the weevil. It is not the fist time the team have used nematodes, five years ago they were used to treat the lawn in the Provost's garden for chafer grubs, see blog entry 7th November 2013 'Nemasys G', A Biological Treatment For Chafer Grubs'. Having calculated the application rate, the contents of the packet, 50 million nematodes, were mixed with the required amount of water and applied as a drench to the soil using watering cans. In the nursery the plants that are in pots have now been treated and another drench using the nematodes in the second packets will be applied over the next few weeks to treat the many display containers out in the gardens.  

 50 Million Nematodes