Q2. What are the safety issues when using and handling of ENs? Answer
Q3. Do ENs damage Turf? Answer
Q4. How are they applied? Answer
Q5. What is the difference between Plant Parasitic Nematodes and Entomopathogenic Nematodes? Answer
Q6. Will using ENs have any effect on other beneficial organisms in the soil? Answer
Q7. Will ENs have potential to harm any on site fauna (i.e. ducks)? Answer
Q8. Will other products affect the results I get with ENs? Answer
Q9. Is this an expensive treatment? Answer
Q10. Once I've treated the turf, will I need to reapply? Answer
Q11. Can I get technical assistance? Answer
A1. What are the advantages of using ENs over traditional insecticides? The main advantage is using EN technology is that it has no toxicity effects to humans, aquatic life and beneficial organisms in the soil. There is no requirement for withholding periods, and no exposure risks to applicators and the users (i.e. golfers, bowlers).
Environmentally the fate of traditional pesticides groups (i.e. organophosphates, Carbamates ect) pesticides haves a number of negative effects that include: -
Groundwater Contamination
- Non-Target Insecticide Effects
-
Insecticide Resistance
-
Insecticide Enhanced Biodegradation
The use of ENs for insect control eliminates all the above environmental management and litigation concerns.
A2. What are the safety issues when using and handling of ENs? The advantages of
using these bio-pesticides are in operator and end-user
safety, absence of withholding periods, minimal harm to
natural enemies and lack of environmental pollution
Varoius tests against mice, rabbits and monkeys (Gaugler,
1979; Wang et al, 1983, 1984; Wang & Liu, 1983; Boemare,
et al, 1996) have shown that the ENs tested are harmless when
fed, injected or inhaled.
They are also harmless to earth worms (Capinera et al,
1982) and other non-insect organisms including plants and they
are of course nonpolluting.
They have now been used on a large scale in various
countries for over ten years and large numbers of production
workers have been exposed to thousands of billions of them
without any adverse effects being recorded.
The EPA in the USA, like many other countries including
Australia, has exempted ENs from registration.
A3. Do ENs damage Turf? ENs naturally occur in the soil and have no effect on the health of plants. The bacteria that Ens use to kill insects also has no toxicity or effects on turfgrasses.
A4. How are they applied? Nematodes are supplied in a cellulose-based carrier. ENs are applied like any traditional spray application via a boom spray, pump and hose or venturi system. Water volume is critical and we suggest for weevils and scarabs apply a min 500 litres per/ha, for Caterpillar controls apply at least 250 litres per/ha. Post irrigation is also essential to ensure that the nematodes can connect to the insect host. If the soil is dry pre –irrigation is important.
A5. What is the difference between Plant Parasitic Nematodes and Entomopathogenic Nematodes? Nematodes are supplied in a cellulose-based carrier. ENs are applied like any traditional spray application via a boom spray, pump and hose or venturie system. Water volume is critical and we suggest for weevils and scarabs apply a min 500lts per/ha, for Caterpillar controls apply at least 250sqm/ha. Post irrigation is essential to ensure the nematodes can connect to the insect host. If the soil is dry pre –irrigation is recommended.
A6. Will using ENs have any effect on other beneficial organisms in the soil? Like most plant parasitic
nematodes those infesting turf use a stylet or spear at their head
end, rather like a hypodermic syringe, to pierce plant cells and
then suck out fluids from within.
The ENs that we use to control insects are
about as different from plant parasitic nematodes as human beings
are from goldfish.
A7. Will ENs have potential to harm any on site fauna (i.e. ducks)? Definitely not! ENs have no mammalian toxicity and therefore are safe to humans, aquatic life, ducks and birds.
A8. Will other products affect the results I get with ENs? Compatibility sheets are available from ECOGROW Environment Pty Ltd. Overall nematicides are not compatible, however many fungicides herbicides and other insecticide groups have some tolerance but usually will mean a interval of a number of days or weeks are required between applying ENs and other pesticides.
A9. Is this an expensive treatment? Actually, the cost of using ENs can be about the same cost as the chemical alternative although completely safe with no harm caused to humans or non-targeted insect life in the soil. Even if the initial cost seems higher if measured on a hectare by hectare basis, the annual usage cost can be considerably lower! This is because ENs are used only when insects are present, whereas preventative chemical treatments are used over much greater areas. Are there special requirements for using ENS?
In general, the application of ENs is easier than using a chemical. EN solutions are simply sprayed onto affected areas using normal spray equipment. However, no special safety equipment such as protection required for chemicals is necessary. Treated areas are also available for use without any withholding period. Like all EN products, however, there are a few golden rules. For example, they must be applied at dusk due to their sensitivity to UV light. ENs also require a moisture film in order to migrate from the thatch and into the soil area. It is also important to ensure that the soil remains moist for the duration of the treatment period.
A10. Once I've treated the turf, will I need to reapply? The answer is generally no. ENs breed in large numbers inside dead insect hosts and the resulting offspring are released back into the soil. This allows a rapid growth in the EN population. It is also known that under ideal conditions, ENs will survive for up to 4 weeks in the soil when there are no target insects available as a food source. Because of this, ENs usually provide a season-long control of the targeted insect.
An exception would be where a re-infestation occurred after sufficient time had elapsed for the EN population to decline. This is an area of continuing research.
Is further research still required? As with all Ecogrow EN products, constant and on-going research is currently in train. We constantly look for improvements in application methodology, improved nematode strains (increased virulence), longer in-soil life and refined or reduced application rates. Ecogrow does not make products available until effective and independently generated trial data is available, and so efficacy of listed products is guaranteed.
A11. Can I get technical assistance? Absolutely! The key to any IPM strategy lies in monitoring. EN solutions are curative rather than preventative, and so economies are achieved by treating only affected areas rather than a practice of treating areas that have traditionally shown susceptibility. Therefore, significant savings can be achieved by a reduction in the overall square meters of turf requiring treatment.
Ecogrow consultants are available to assist in
establishing a monitoring program and in setting up IPM strategies
for the control and/or suppression of this and many other common
pests