I've read about using nematodes for slug control but cant find local products and not sure if they are controlled in some fashion so bringing them in from the US might be a no-no. However, they seem like the perfect thing to use and I would like to know if anyone knows about their availability in the Vancouver area. One such product available in the US is called "nemaslug." For those that do not know what they are... they are a type of minute multi-cellular animals found almost everywhere in one form or another. The are thousands of different types and most are completely harmless but some are parasites for specific hosts. One such type is a slug parasite that kills its host. This variety can be spread around the garden without concern for its affects on other life forms (i.e. birds, pets, kids). Application is via a watering can or garden hose spray attachement and no safety equipment (mask, etc) is required becasue the variety that affects slugs is completely harmless to humans. Slugs are infected on contact and this measure of control is said to be effective for several months even in heavy rain. Another common example of a nematode (just for refrerence) is "swimmers itch." This variety is a duck parasite but it sometimes attempts to bore into other hosts. When it bores into ducks it completes its lifecycle but when it bores into humans it is harmless (aside form being very itchy for a while, that is).
Sunshine Coast Nursery near Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast (surprise, surprise) advertised about a month ago that they had nematodes in stock. You may wish to call them at 604 886 2796.
nematodes that are currently available through local garden centers are a species that attacks vine weevil larvae. The nematode that has been promised for use against european chafer is still not currently available to retail consumers (retail will be the last market to get whats left of them after cities and municipalities, then landscapers). I have found The Bug Lady (based on vancouver island near errington) as a good source of info as well as products. try thebuglady.ca
the european shafer can be controled by the Heterorhabditis nemotode. the other one that is commonly used is Steinernema and you can get them togeather (often seen as just H. nemotode and S. Nemotode). For slugs they use a carnovor cone slug (don't know the name). There are actually three types on Nemotodes (parasitic, free standing, and predatious) and some gardeners know parisitic well when we dig up dead plants and find roots covered with them - these are difererent then the insecticidal or entomopathogenic spreading bio pathogens to their host. These kill whole host of grubs and insects. If you do a search on shafer and neotode you may find a Canadian study I read reciently. Apearently skunks really like european shafer as the skunks tear up the turf (more like nuke the turf) in looking for the grubs. least that what I saw in the canadian report..
I went back and checked. OK, I kinda got confused over two articles thinking they were both the same article... Here is the canadian *Skunk* article: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/chafer.htm However, that article said (mistakingly) there was no control available. In all farness I think they mean *local* natural other then the skunk which isn't an option LOL However, this Canadian article did mention H. nemotode: http://www.city.burnaby.bc.ca/cityh...gnrn_whtshp/engnrn_whtshp_erpnch.html#prevent ... (H. bacteriophora is the H. Nemitode I mentioned above ... guess I should be correct and say its "Heterorhabditis bacteriophora" ... So I kinda got confused in thinking they were both the same article...
as to no control being available it is currently true in that consumers are not able to purchase any product that is currently registered in Canada for control of Chafer. That includes nematodes and/or Merit (amidacloprid). there is however a source for commercial applicators available and the promise of the supplier is that the product (Merit and nematodes ( the species previously mentioned by Fourd)) will be made available to the general public. As I stated earlier the lineup of availability is first to cities and municipalities, second to commercial applicators (landscapers with license) then whatever may be left over will be offered to garden centers to sell to the general public. To my knowledge the inside scoop is that the Merit may make it to market for retail but may be cost prohibitive to most homeowners and the nematodes will probably be in very short supply if they make it to the retail sector at all. The supplier has stated that THEIR supplier is not able to meet the demand as it takes a year to get the production of a full cycle of nematodes and they are simply not ready for the expected demand. http://www.burnaby.ca/__shared/assets/engnrn_whtshp_erpnch05927.pdf
