Sciarid Fly Nematodes Fungus Gnat Compost Fly Organic Natural Killer Treatment Treats 12.sqm

Product Information

Soil or compost temperatures should be above 10℃ for the nematodes to be active. How Do I Apply The Nematodes? Water from the bottom using a tray, rather than the top. Since the eggs tend to be laid near the top of the soil, this prevents the top section becoming too moist. If you dig through the soil, you may also see the larvae. However, these are hard to see since they are tiny and translucent. You can create your own gnat trap simply with a bowl of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of washing-up liquid. The vinegar attracts the gnats, whilst the washing-up liquid makes it hard for them to leave.

Use in combination with Sciarid Nematodes – use nematodes to treat Sciarid Flies already present and then top with Sciarid Zoot Off to protect the plants from future infestations. There are thousands of different Scaridae species, but they look broadly similar and it’s nearly impossible to see the above detail with the human eye.This ground-dwelling predatory rove beetle is available for control of both sciarid and shore flies. Both the adults and larvae will eat sciarid and shore fly eggs, larvae and pupae in the growing media. They will also eat other prey in the growing media, including thrips larvae and pupae. Steinernema feltiae is the species recommended for sciarid fly control and is commonly used on protected ornamentals where it can be very effective. Steinernema carpocapsae (recommended for shore fly control – see below) will also kill sciarid fly larvae, however S. feltiae is more effective . The nematode suspension is applied in water as a growing media drench. The nematodes move through the growing media to find a sciarid fly larva and enter the body, where they multiply and release symbiotic bacteria that kill it. The dead sciarid fly larva rapidly decomposes, releasing the nematode juveniles that have multiplied inside the body, and these can then move to find and infect other larvae .

Adult fungus gnats live for about 7 days. In this time each female lays a staggering 150 eggs in the soil of your plant. After about 5 days, these eggs hatch into larvae. These larvae are the ones that can cause root damage and live up to 14 days. They then form pupae to transform into the adult fly form, which takes about 5 days. How long do gnats live? It is so easy to use and when used as a programme, the gardener does not have to worry about application times or thorough investigations as to what the pests actually are. Just follow the programme - designed to target pests when they are active in the soil or on plants, see below for specific details. It's safe on food crops and suitable for use on organic crops. It will not harm pets, children, wildlife or bees. The nematodes are easy to apply and completely safe to use around children, pets and wildlife, making them the perfect solution for organic gardening. To treat Sciarid fly, mix the nematodes with water and water directly into the affected pots / trays. Sciarid Zoot Off Granules – Stop Sciarid Flies laying their eggs in your pots / containers / seed trays by adding a layer of Sciarid Zoot Off to the surface of your compost – layer should be at least 1cm deep. It can be spread around established plants or applied after seeds have been sown and the seedlings will germinate through the dressing. This new granular product is made from dried, crushed olive pommace (the dried left-overs from making organic olive oil) with an added volcanic mineral. Sciarid Zoot Off is made out of natural / non-toxic ingredients, is attractive in appearance, fragrant, biodegradable, safe to use and is totally safe for pets and wildlife. Available in 1.7kg bags, each bag will cover 1.2 sqm. How it works :-The whole lifecycle is about 28 days, but the adult fungus gnats live only around 7 days. Where do fungus gnats come from? Setting traps may be able to eradicate a very small infestation, and will certainly reduce numbers, perhaps to an acceptable level. Fungus gnat larvae are normally brought in from infested potting soil, or soil in a new houseplant. They can also be brought in by firewood, since they like the damp bark.

The Fungus Fly, also known as the Sciarid Fly, can cause severe damage to many plants including house plants and plants being propagated. These tiny flies will lay eggs in compost or soil, from which larvae develop. T he larvae often feed on young plants and seedlings at propagation and are a very common pest in house plants. Damp conditions and organic plant matter will provide an ideal breeding ground for the larvae, which will feed on plant roots causing damping off and seedling collapse. The larvae, at large numbers, can also spread soil-borne diseases such as Pythium. Once the larvae develop into adults they become nuisance pests, forming small clouds of flies when disturbed. What Are Fungus Fly Killer Nematodes & How Can They Help? Sciarid fly (also known as compost fly) or Fungus Gnats are a common pest of greenhouse plants in the spring. Repeat applications may be required after 4 weeks to prevent the build up of fresh Fungus Fly larvae. Seedlings and cuttings are most affected by this and so are a major problem for herbs, greenhouses and nurseries. Water your plants less. Many a houseplant is watered more than it actually needs. Try watering it less and see how it responds.Nematodes are microscopic worms that are natural predators of fungus gnats. They come in a powder form which you simply mix with water and add to the soil around your plant using a watering can. Add 0.5L of the nematode concentrate to a w atering can or sprayer (hand held sprayers should suffice, with filters removed, or use our specific nematode applicator, the Nema Super Sprayer, for optimum nematode application) with up to 8L of water. Adult sciarids are very mobile. They lay their eggs within moist soil top layers of soil which is commonly found in house plants and young plant propagation settings. The larvae are generalist feeders moving through moist soil and feed on new plant root growth or the stems of seedlings and young plants. Nematodes are capable of surviving the odd frost; so don't worry if the temperature falls after you have applied the nematodes. The adult sciarid flies live on and around the compost surface of pots, more commonly indoors rather than outside. The flies themselves are an unsightly nuisance but most of the damage is caused actually by their young. The small white larvae live in the compost and feed on the tender roots of plants and cuttings. They will also come to the surface to feed.

Fungus Fly are attracted to organic matter and compost. They especially thrive in wet soil or compost, so overwatering plants can encourage infestations and bolster their populations. Ensuring not to overwater is therefore the first step to take in reducing their numbers. The nematodes will not harm plant leaves but wash them off into the soil, where they can control the sciarid fly.

Naturally occurring beneficials

Although fungus gnats are largely unavoidable, there are some techniques you can try to prevent them: The nematodes can travel through the moist soil and locate the fungus gnat larvae. They then burrow inside and reproduce, killing the larvae and creating more nematodes to hunt down more larvae until none are left. Once the larvae are gone, the nematodes have no prey and naturally die out. Fungus gnats, also known as sciarid flies, affect all types of plants including flowers, fruits and vegetables. They especially love indoor or greenhouse plants in pots and containers due to their moist soil and/or humid conditions, and can be very irritating to have flying around inside. Kleidotoma psiloides is another naturally occurring p arasitoid of shore fly larvae, found on UK protected ornamentals in PC 239, which behaves in a similar way to A. debilitata .