Re: Nematodes
Sal Schettino (sals@coyote.rain.org)
Wed, 23 Mar 1994 06:38:10 -0800 (PST)
I will give Rick a call. I will never make it to riverside for 8am. but
waiting on your booklet. I can get a micrscope from the kids that is 75
to 700 and I have one of those hand mod. thats 30 I think. I like looking
at living biological control. Watching them is half the fun. The one I
like watching most is that lacewing larvae. Predatory mite u can see
when you frist get them but when released they move out fast. They seem
to do a good job. Cann't wait to see Orius and Thriponius. I think they
will be a good investment because they over winter and maybe establish.
Thats what I would really like to do. Release what might establish frist
than play with the other predators if I need too. Right now Im worknig
on getting rid of the thrips problem. I thought nematodes would help get
them in their larvae state. I was also hoping they would get rid of
ants. darn ants if I can stop them the beneficials would eat the
mealybugs and aphids. I have a problem with mealybugs and the only thing
I have found so far was putting tape around trunk of tree and using
tanglefoot to stop the ants. I know what you mean about them being too
smart they seem to always find a way around the tanglefoot. Its a real
war.If the wind blows one blade of grass against the tree above the
sticky stuff they will wait and ride the wind.I use drip iragation and
thought I could
put nematodes out when I water. The ants have to drink so maybe the
nematodes could run them off. have you poured nematodes right into the
ant hill? If you say forget it on the ants you have just saved me
lots of time. Nematodes sound perfect for the greenhouse. Do you
think they would do a better job on fungus gnats than Bacillus
thuringienisis. Will the bt hurt the nematodes? Where do these nematodes
come from? Where do they live
naturally in the soil? Are they from tropics where it rains all the time?.