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Subject: Re: Parasitic Nematodes as a defense against wireworms?
From: orangerose@aol.com (Orangerose)
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Date: Mon, 17 May 99 15:16:45
Message-ID: <MOD$990517.18727@rec.gardens.ecosystems>
References: <MOD$990514.614@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



> I've read that parisitic
>nematodes can help with wireworms and cutworms, but my concern is whether
>they will also kill my precious earthworms. Has anybody had any experience
>with this?
Predatory nematodes are attracted to and eat chitin, the material that makes up
the exoskeleton of predatory nematodes, wireworms and insect grubs. Earthworms
do not have such exoskeletons and so are not attacked. BTW, this is why ground
shrimp shells are used for nematode treatment--the chitin in the shells
increases the population of predatory nematodes, then, when the chitin is gone,
the predatory population is very high and will take care of the soil pests.

Kelly