NEMAforce™ HB – (50/250 million)

Product Description

NEMAforce™ HB is the beneficial nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, used to control soil-dwelling grubs and root pests. It is a “cruiser” that prefers to live well below the soil surface and actively seeks out its hosts, which makes it a strong choice against deeper grubs like Japanese beetle larvae. The microscopic nematodes are harmless to people, pets, and plants, and fit into turf, nursery, ornamental, and field programs — including medicinal cannabis.

What it targets

• Japanese Beetle, June/May Beetle, and other white grubs
• Apple Maggot pupae and leafminer pupae
• Cabbage Root Maggots, Onion Maggots, Carrot Rust Flies, Carrot Weevils
• Cucumber Beetle larvae, Flea Beetle larvae, Northern Corn Rootworms, Wireworms
• and many other soil-dwelling pests

Crops it supports

Soft fruits, turf and lawn, tree and shrub nurseries, and ornamentals — in greenhouses, indoor facilities, medicinal cannabis, 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

Apply in 65–130 gallons of water per acre (about 1.5–3 gallons per 1,000 ft²). Always follow the product label for your target pest and site.

Application & Storage

Application: Soil should be 59–86°F at application and for at least two weeks afterward. Agitate the nematodes constantly during application, avoid direct sunlight, and apply in the early morning or late afternoon/evening — applying just before, during, or after rain is ideal. Make sure the soil is moist before application and keep it moist for at least two weeks. Immediately after applying, irrigate the treated area with about 1/8 inch (0.30 cm) of water to move the nematodes down into the soil profile. Time that irrigation to within 30 minutes under hot, dry conditions, and within 2 hours under cool, wet ones.

Mixing: NEMAforce™ HB can be applied with standard spray equipment, including tank sprayers, backpack sprayers, and irrigation injection systems — remove any filters first. Fill the spray vessel or stock tank with half the required cool, clean water and start agitation. In a separate bucket, premix the required number of trays in water, using a minimum of 1 liter (1 quart) per tray, and mix thoroughly. Rinse the bucket contents into the spray tank, then continue agitating while filling to the required volume, and maintain agitation throughout the application so the nematodes stay uniformly dispersed in the spray mix.

Storage & disposal: On receipt, remove the product from the shipping packaging and use it immediately, or store it in a refrigerator at 40°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

Heterorhabditis bacteriophora is an entomopathogenic nematode — a microscopic roundworm that kills insects. It does not chew or pierce its prey. It gets inside and lets a bacterial partner do the work.

The partnership that does the killing

Each infective juvenile carries a symbiotic bacterium, Photorhabdus sp., in its gut. The nematode enters a host 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. Note that this is a different bacterial genus from the one carried by the Steinernema nematodes — Heterorhabditis partners with Photorhabdus, not Xenorhabdus.

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.

A cruiser that hunts deep

Nematode species differ in how they search, and it decides which pests they can reach. Ambushers hold position and wait for prey to pass. H. bacteriophora is the opposite: a cruiser that ranges actively through the soil profile, well below the surface, hunting hosts that do not come to it. That is exactly the right strategy for white grubs — Japanese beetle, chafer, June and May beetle larvae — which sit and feed on roots several inches down and would never walk into an ambush. It is also why the application has to end with irrigation: the nematodes must be carried down into the profile to reach the zone where they work.

Conditions it wants

Optimal soil temperature is 59–86°F, and it needs to stay in that band both at application and for at least two weeks afterward. Soil moisture matters just as much — moist before application, and kept moist for two weeks after. A dry spell in the fortnight following treatment can undo the application.

Choosing between the three NEMAforce™ nematodes

The three species are matched to different depths and different pests. Picking by foraging strategy is the fastest way to get it right.

Monitoring

You are unlikely to find the nematodes themselves — they are microscopic and they work deep in the profile. Look for the hosts instead. Dig a few sample grubs from a treated area and check them: a parasitized insect will be dead, discolored, and partially deteriorated, with the degree of breakdown depending on how long ago the nematodes entered. Falling grub counts in successive samples are the practical confirmation that the treatment is working.

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.
• Use cool water for mixing 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 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.