---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 23 Mar 1994 09:19:42 -0500 (EST)
From: PATRICIA J VITTUM <pvittum@ent.umass.edu>
To: sals@coyote.rain.org
Cc: PATRICIA J VITTUM <pvittum@pobox.ucs.umass.edu>
Subject: Re: Nematology
Hi, Sal - My expertise is in turf insects, but I have worked some with
entomopathogenic nematodes. You have already done well by contacting the
biosys folks. You know by now that Steinernema carpocapsae is the
species most readily available. My experience is that they can handle
being applied through standard hydraulic sprayers (although you may have
to remove the filter if it is unusually fine). They will work much
better if they are watered in ASAP after application (they need films of
water to move through the organic matter or soil profile while searching
for their first victim). They also are somewhat sensitive to storage
conditions - i.e., don't keep the containers in the back of a pickup
truck for a week or two. Store them out of sunlight where temperatures
don't get above 85.
There is a new formulation which will be available this year and will
make application infinitely easier than it was last year. The new
formulation is a "water dispersable granule" - all you do is add the
granules to the sprayer, agitate a bit, and head out. Avoid application
in the middle of the day (early morning or early evening would be ideal).
Good luck!
Pat Vittum, Entomology, UMASS