|
Online groeiwinkel productinfo -Package good for 50 square meter -shipping on Tuesday or Thursday Steinernema-System provides the perfect biological solution to the problem of glasshouse sciarids. It is based on a unique strain of the insect parasitic nematode Steinernema feltiae, which seeks out and destroys sciarid larvae in compost. Biology: Steinernema feltiae Steinernema-System owes its consistent, effective control of sciarids to the way in which it works. Applied to the compost, the nematodes actively seek out sciarid larvae. They enter each larva through natural body openings. Once inside of the larva, they move to the intestinal canal and drill through the intestinal wall of the larva. A specific bacteria which lives in symbiosis with the nematode releases and will eventually cause the death of the larva. The nematodes reproduce inside the larva. As it decomposes, a new generation of nematodes moves off into the compost in search of further prey. Damage Especially the larvae of the glasshouse sciarids can cause a lot of damage. They feed not only on decaying organic matter in the compost, such as algae and mould, but also on living material such as root and stalk tissue. They pierce into the root and/or stalk of cuttings, seedlings or young plants. As a result of this, secondary plant diseases such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Botrytis, Fusarium and Verticillium can be spread. The most common symptoms of such an attack are the wilting and the slowing down of the growth of the plants. In the worst case, this might even lead to the death of these plants. The following crops frequently suffer severe sciarid attack: | | Pointsettia, Azalea, Cyclamen, Kalanchoe, Exacum, Gerbera, Begonia, ... | |
Application The key to success is applying routine, preventative treatments. That way, sciarid populations are not allowed to build up, and crop damage is prevented. Compost should be treated as soon as possible after sowing seed or inserting cuttings. Many crops are susceptible to sciarid damage during the first six weeks, and a single Steinernema-System treatment is frequently sufficient. For very slow growing crops, it may be desirable to reapply Steinernema-System at six week intervals in order to maintain protection. If Steinernema-System treatment is delayed until sciarids are established in the crop, it will be 2-3 weeks before the numbers of adult flies are noticeably reduced. Steinernema-System works best in moist, warm compost (15-20°C). If compost temperatures fall to less than 10°C or rose to 30°C or higher, the nematodes become inactive. Wet spots as well as the growth of algae are best to be prevented, as they could promote the number of glasshouse sciarids present. Benefits
|
