NEMAforce™ SF – (50/250 million)

Product Description

NEMAforce™ SF is the beneficial nematode Steinernema feltiae, an intermediate forager that prefers to live 1–2 inches below the media surface and uses a mix of “cruising” and “ambush” hunting. It is the go-to nematode for fungus gnats and a useful tool against soil-stage thrips. The microscopic nematodes are harmless to people, pets, and plants, and fit cleanly into greenhouse, cannabis, and nursery programs.

What it targets

• Fungus Gnat larvae
• Shore Fly larvae
• Mushroom Fly larvae
• Western Flower Thrips, Onion Thrips, and other thrips (adults, larvae, and pupae)

Crops it supports

Ornamentals, hemp/cannabis, vegetables, mushrooms, soft fruits, and tree nurseries — in greenhouses, indoor facilities, fields, and gardens.

How the nematodes work

Infective juvenile nematodes penetrate the host through its natural openings. Once inside the body cavity, they release a symbiotic bacterium that kills the host insect within 24–48 hours. The nematodes grow and multiply inside the dead host, and a new generation of infective juveniles then leaves it in search of more pests.

Release Rates

Always follow the product label for your crop and target pest.

Application & Storage

Application: NEMAforce™ SF can be applied with standard spray equipment, including tank sprayers, backpack sprayers, and irrigation injection systems — remove any filters first. Moisten the media to about 75% capacity, fill the spray vessel with half the required cool, clean water, start agitation, add the nematode trays, then continue agitating while filling to the final volume. Use enough total spray volume to carry the nematodes 1–2 inches below the surface where they live, and maintain agitation throughout the application, not just while mixing, so the nematodes stay uniformly dispersed.

Applying to foliage: For thrips on the plant, apply on an overcast day. Use as little water volume as possible while still covering the leaf surfaces, and add a wetting agent. Humidity must be kept high for the nematodes to survive on foliage — lightly misting the plants with water about half an hour after application helps.

Storage & disposal: On receipt, remove the product from the shipping packaging and use it immediately, or store it in a refrigerator at 41°F (5°C) — do not freeze. Ensure good air circulation around each tray, and do not use the product past its expiration date or if it was stored incorrectly. Dispose of product and packaging in accordance with federal and local regulations.

Meet the Beneficial Nematode

Steinernema feltiae is an entomopathogenic nematode — a microscopic roundworm that kills insects. It is not a predator in the usual sense: it does not chew or pierce its prey. It gets inside and lets a partner do the work.

The partnership that does the killing

Each infective juvenile carries a symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus sp., in its gut. The nematode enters a host insect through its natural openings and releases the bacteria into the body cavity, where they multiply and kill the host within 24 to 48 hours. Neither partner works alone: the bacterium cannot reach a host without the nematode carrying it there, and the nematode cannot feed until the bacterium has converted the host into a food source.

The infection cycle

Almost the entire life of this nematode is spent inside a host. Only one stage lives free in the soil — and that is the stage you are buying and applying.

How it hunts

Nematode species differ in how they search, and it decides where they are useful. Pure "cruisers" roam widely for sedentary hosts; pure "ambushers" wait near the surface and lunge at passing insects. S. feltiae is an intermediate forager that does both, which is why it handles fungus gnat larvae sitting in the media and mobile thrips moving through it. It settles about 1 to 2 inches below the media surface — so an application that only wets the top layer, or one that drives the nematodes far past that band, misses the zone where they actually work.

Conditions it wants

Optimal soil temperature is 50–78°F. Outside that band activity drops off, so check media temperature rather than air temperature before applying — in a heated propagation bench or a cold early-season field, the two can differ substantially.

Where it fits in a thrips program

For fungus gnats, shore flies, and mushroom flies, this product stands on its own. For thrips it covers the soil-dwelling part of the life cycle — the stage that foliar predators cannot reach. Growers running a full thrips program typically pair it with a foliar predatory mite such as Amblyseius cucumeris, so the pest is under pressure both in the canopy and in the media.

Monitoring

Once applied, finding Steinernema feltiae in the media is difficult — they are microscopic and they are underground. Judge the application by its result rather than by locating the organism: watch for a drop in pest numbers a few days after treatment. Yellow sticky cards over the media give the clearest read on adult fungus gnat activity, and a falling catch across successive weeks is the signal you are looking for.

Advisories

This product contains living organisms that require special handling and application procedures. Most nematode failures in the field are equipment or handling problems, not product problems.

• Do not subdivide. Once a tray is opened, use the entire tray immediately. Mix with cool water and keep the tank out of direct sunlight.
• Remove filters of 50 mesh or finer from application equipment and nozzles — a fine filter strains the nematodes out of the spray.
• Do not exceed 300 psi pump pressure.
• Do not use application systems with a nozzle aperture smaller than 0.5 mm.
• Agitate constantly during application, not just while mixing. Nematodes settle out of suspension quickly, and an unagitated tank delivers most of the product in the last few gallons.
• Do not spot treat. Treat the entire greenhouse crop at the appropriate rate.

Disclosures

Live product

Beneficial Insectary strives to guarantee the live delivery of the freshest organisms to our customers. We offer replacements or credits for any compromised shipments to customers who report issues or concerns within 24 hours. These issues or concerns must be relayed before releasing any organisms suspected of having viability issues. Please do not discard the product — you may be asked to return the shipment for further analysis.

Establishment of beneficials in crop settings

Many variables can affect biological control agent (BCA) and pest populations in the crops we work with — pesticide applications, watering practices, improper storage, and cultural, physical, or mechanical controls among them. Some beneficial organisms need a steady pest presence as a food source to build their population; others need alternate food such as pollen or nectar; still others have specific photoperiod requirements. Because of these variables, we cannot guarantee the short- or long-term establishment of the BCAs we sell once the organisms have been released. We do not offer refunds, discounts, or other credits on products that have already been released. Please refer to our live-product disclosure above.