Our Top NEMAforce™ SC for Shore Fly Control

NEMAforce™ SC – (50/250 million)

$81.22

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NEMAforce™ SC for Shore Fly Control

Steinernema carpocapsae — ambush nematodes that hunt shore fly larvae on the media surface.

What it targets

NEMAforce™ SC is Steinernema carpocapsae — an entomopathogenic nematode used as a biological knock-down on the soft-bodied larvae of pests that live on or just under the media surface. Primary target on a greenhouse program: shore fly larvae (Scatella stagnalis), which colonize algae on benches, drains, pots, and growing media. The same product also takes flea larvae and pupae, billbugs, cutworms, sod webworms, strawberry root weevil, black vine weevil, navel orangeworm and codling moth (overwintering generations), and several borer species — anywhere an exposed insect larva sits long enough for the nematode to find it.

SC is a surface specialist. Unlike Steinernema feltiae (the SF nematode used for fungus gnats and thrips pupae down in the media), S. carpocapsae stays at the media surface in a sit-and-wait posture. That makes it the right choice for shore fly — their larvae feed on surface algae — and the wrong choice for pests living deeper in the root zone. Pair NEMAforce™ SC with DALOTIAforce™ (Dalotia coriaria) for long-term, broad-spectrum cover on soil-dwelling pests, or with S. feltiae when both shore flies and fungus gnats are showing up.

Adult Scatella stagnalis shore fly with characteristic five white spots on dark wings — Adult shore fly (*Scatella stagnalis*) — the five white spots on the dark wings are the identifying mark. The larvae are the stage NEMAforce™ SC targets.

How it works

S. carpocapsae is a pure ambush predator. The infective juveniles you apply stay near the media surface and wait for a host to crawl past — they don’t actively forage like the cruiser-style Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. When a shore fly larva (or any other soft-bodied target) makes contact, the nematode enters through a natural opening: the mouth, anus, or spiracles. Inside the body cavity, it releases its symbiotic Xenorhabdus bacteria, which kills the host within 24–48 hours. The nematodes then reproduce inside the dead insect; new infective juveniles emerge and resume the wait near the surface.

The ambush mode is why surface application matters. Optimal soil-temperature range is 57–84°F — air temperature counts here too, because SC lives at the interface, not in the root zone. Light is the enemy; UV inactivates infective juveniles, so apply early morning or evening and avoid full sun. Humidity has to stay high for the first few hours after release, and the media has to stay moist for at least two weeks so the nematodes can move, hunt, and reproduce.

Why “ambush” vs. “cruiser” matters

Nematode species are usually classified by foraging strategy. S. carpocapsae ambushes — it stays put and intercepts mobile prey. S. feltiae uses an intermediate strategy and is the SF product of choice for fungus gnat larvae feeding deeper in the media. H. bacteriophora is the cruiser, actively searching for sedentary grubs in soil. Matching the nematode to the pest’s position in (or on) the media is the single most important call in a program.

NEMAforce SC tray with gel-filler carrier holding Steinernema carpocapsae infective juveniles — NEMAforce™ SC ships as infective juveniles in a tray with gel-filler carrier — 50 million (C50) or 250 million (C250) per tray.

Crops, environments, and climate

Crops it supports

Ornamentals Vegetables Soft fruit Orchards Tree nurseries Hydroponic systems with algae Turf

Environments

Greenhouses Indoor facilities Fields Gardens Containerized nursery

Storage

Use immediately on receipt whenever possible. If a brief hold is unavoidable, refrigerate at 40°F (5°C) with good air circulation around each tray. Do not freeze. Don’t use the product past its expiration date or if it has been stored incorrectly. REI = 0 and the product is compatible with organic certification programs.

Instructions of use

Scout, then spot-treat or broadcast

Shore fly hot spots cluster around algae — benches, drains, the tops, sides, and undersides of bench surfaces, and any moist media supporting algal growth. Sample those areas first. If the infestation is patchy and you can sample accurately, spot-treat. If you can’t cover the crop with sampling, broadcast over the entire infested area instead.

Mixing and application

NEMAforce™ SC goes on through standard spray gear: tank sprayer, backpack sprayer, or boom. Remove any filters from the equipment first — the juveniles are too large for typical mesh. Irrigate the media first (no nematodes yet). Fill the spray vessel halfway with cool, clean water, start agitation, and add the required trays. Continue agitation while filling the tank to the final spray volume, then mist the nematode suspension onto the media surface. Keep the agitation running through the application to hold the juveniles in even suspension. If you’re treating foliage, do it on an overcast day with the minimum water volume that wets the leaves, add a wetting agent, and re-mist the foliage about thirty minutes after application to hold humidity.

Timing and follow-through

Apply in early morning or evening to avoid direct sunlight. For greenhouse shore flies, the vendor schedule is three applications at 7-day intervals at 250 million per 2,750–5,400 sq. ft. Keep the media moist for at least two weeks after the first application so the nematodes can move and the second generation can establish in dead larvae.

Monitoring & advisories

Monitor for

Yellow sticky cards placed just above media level for shore fly adults. The cards are a monitoring tool only — they won’t bring populations down on their own.
Falling larval counts on bench-top algae and damp media surfaces within a few days of application.
Fewer fly-specks (frass deposits) on plant leaves — these are a cosmetic and disease-vectoring concern, and they drop as larvae stop pupating into new adults.
S. carpocapsae juveniles themselves are visible on the media surface with a 10× hand lens.

Advisories

UV light kills infective juveniles. Apply early morning, evening, or on an overcast day — never under midday sun.
Media must stay moist for at least two weeks after application. Letting the surface dry through that window collapses the nematode population.
Soil-temperature range is 57–84°F. Below or above the window, both pest activity and nematode efficacy drop.
NEMAforce™ SC is a surface specialist. For fungus gnat larvae feeding deeper in the media, use NEMAforce™ SF (Steinernema feltiae) instead. For sedentary grubs in soil, use a cruiser-style nematode like Heterorhabditis bacteriophora.
Shore flies vector black root rot via fungal spores carried in their frass. Knock down the larvae and reduce algal substrate; cultural controls (drying the media surface when possible, sanitation, algae management) matter alongside the nematode release.

Application rates — for conventional crops

Pest / use site	Rate	Notes
Greenhouse shore flies active	250 million per 2,750–5,400 sq. ft.	3 applications at 7-day intervals; spray pot tops, bench tops/sides/undersides, and other algae-bearing surfaces.
Cranberry girdler active	2–3 billion per acre	Rate scales with thatch depth. Apply 2 weeks after egg-laying when larvae are present.
Mint root borer / mint flea beetle active	1–1.5 / 3 billion per acre	August–September when soil temps run 55–86°F at application and for ≥ 2 weeks after.
Navel orangeworm / codling moth active	0.4–1.0 billion per acre	Apply to overwintering larval generation; time on favorable weather.
Black vine weevil / strawberry root weevil active	250 million / 3,625 sq. ft. — 1 billion / acre	Apply when larvae are active, before damage occurs.
Borers (dogwood, peachtree, clearwing) active	250 million in 250 gal. water treats ~250 trees	Coarse, low-pressure spray to runoff on bark, ground to scaffold limbs. May–September before entry holes are plugged.
Turf flea larvae and pupae active	50M / 2,000 sq. ft. — 250M / 10,000 sq. ft. — 1 billion / acre	Apply to areas frequented by pets. Re-apply in 4 weeks if needed. Compatible adulticide can be added if desired.
NEMAforce™ SC ships as 50 million (C50) or 250 million (C250) infective juveniles in a gel-filler tray. Read the label before every application; rates vary by pest and use site.

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Cannabis Alert

Conventional release rates are usually not sufficient for cannabis growers. We recommend you double the rate or contact us for personalized help.

Life cycle

The Steinernema carpocapsae life cycle runs inside and outside the host insect. The first three stages develop in-vivo (inside the host). The fourth stage — the infective juvenile — exits the dead host and searches for a new one. Adulthood is reached only after entering a new host, completing the cycle.

In-host stages

Stages 1–3 in-vivo

Infective juvenile

Exits dead host, ambushes new prey

Host entry

Via natural openings; releases Xenorhabdus

Adult

Reproduces in-vivo in new host

See it in action

Disclosures

Live-product policy. Beneficial Insectary works to guarantee the live delivery of fresh organisms. Replacements or credits are offered for compromised shipments when customers report issues or concerns within 24 hours — before any organisms suspected of viability issues are released. Don’t discard the product; you may be asked to return the shipment for analysis.

Establishment of biocontrol agents. Many variables — pesticide applications, watering practices, storage methods, and other cultural, physical, or mechanical controls — can shift biocontrol-agent and pest populations. Long- or short-term establishment after release can’t be guaranteed, and refunds, discounts, or credits are not offered on products that have already been applied.

Regulatory. Read and follow all label instructions before applying. Disposal of product and packaging must comply with federal, state, and local regulations.