Sting Nematode Control: How To Get Rid of Sting Nematodes

Sting nematodes are a microscopic roundworm that lives in the soil and is a parasite to plant roots. The Sting Nematode is known to cause damage to a variety of plants and is a prolific agricultural pest due to their feeding habits. Sting Nematodes are the cause of significant yield losses in many crops which at worst case, and if left untreated, can result in complete crop destruction.

Sting Nematodes are found mainly in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States. Sting Nematodes are the largest nematode species, measuring at 3 mm in length. These nematodes primarily reside around deep, sandy soils and they mainly like to feast on the roots of plants. Sting Nematodes require soil content to consist of at least 80 percent sand for survival.

The most common grasses that Sting Nematodes enjoy feeding on and destroying include Seashore Paspalum, Centipede, Bermudagrass and Zoysia. They are also known to be very damaging to golf courses.

If you suspect that you are dealing with Sting Nematodes, this DIY treatment guide can help you to eliminate sting nematodes yourself with ease. Follow the step-by-step directions below using the recommended products to the side and you are guaranteed to successfully kill the Sting Nematode population quickly and affordably.

Identification

Before carrying out a treatment program, you need to make sure that pest you are facing is a sting nematode. Misidentification can lead to using the wrong pesticides and not getting the desired result in eliminating the pest.

• Sting Nematodes are tiny (1/12th of an inch in length) and are basically impossible to see by the naked eye. They are so tiny that they are best viewed under a microscope, where they look like little brownish or dark-colored roundworms.
• Another thing that makes them hard to detect is that they live underground in sandy soils. The best way to identify them is via the damage they cause to plants, particularly their roots.

Use the description and image above to help you to identify Sting Nematodes on your property. If you are not totally certain, contact us and we will help you to properly ID the pest you have and then offer our top product recommendations for control.

Inspection

After you have correctly identified the pest on your turf to be sting nematodes, you can then move forward with an inspection

Where to Inspect

Perform a thorough inspection of your lawn and garden for signs of sting nematodes to find out where the most activity is occurring.

Scan your yard, specifically suspicious areas where you notice damage via discolorations or dead grass. We would recommend cutting a square foot sample of turf away from the areas you are observing to get a better look of the soil for any larvae.

What to Look For

Determine whether you have a small or large infestation by seeing how damaged your turfgrass and plants are. Its best to treat early if you find an infestation as sting nematodes inflict the most damage during dry and hot summer weather.

The most obvious sign of a Sting Nematode infestation on your lawn is the wilting of your plants because they feed off of the juices of the plant through the roots by using their stinging stylets, which is how they earned their name. Another clear sign of nematodes being present are irregular patches of dying and wilting of turfgrass.

Treatment

Before handling chemicals, we recommend putting on personal protective equipment to keep yourself safe during application.

The product we recommend for suppressing Sting Nematodes is ImidaPro 4SC because it is specifically labeled to kill nematodes.

Step 1 - Apply ImidaPro 4SC

Begin by determining how much ImidaPro 4SC you will need by calculating the square footage of your yard. To do this, measure (in feet) the area length times the width, then multiply the two values (length x width = square footage).

ImidaPro 4SC should be applied at a rate of 12 to 16 oz. of product per acre.

Fill your handheld pump sprayer halfway with the appropriate amount of water, measured amount of ImidaPro 4SC, and then place remaining half of water. Close the sprayer lid and shake the tank to ensure the solution is evenly mixed. Spray the top and bottom of afflicted leaves.

Prevention

After eliminating the sting nematode infestation, you will need to work to prevent the infestation from returning.

• Regularly monitor your garden for any signs of damaged turf or leaves. Maintain a regular lawn care schedule which includes watering, fertilizing and mowing.
• What works best for preventing sting nematodes are relieving additional stresses by raising mowing height, increasing irrigation frequency, improving aeration to roots, and reducing traffic can improve tolerance to sting nematodes. Our pesticides can also be used as a preventative application to keep sting nematodes away from your property.

Key Takeaways

What Are Sting Nematodes?

• Sting Nematodes are a microscopic parasite known to cause damage to a variety of plants and is known to be a large agricultural pest due to their feeding habits.

How to Get Rid of Sting Nematodes

• Our top recommendation for sting nematode is ImidaPro 4SC. Apply the product with a handheld pump sprayer and spray on a low pressure fan setting.

Preventing Sting Nematodes Reinfestation

• Preventing Sting Nematodes involves cultural methods of control (mowing, watering, general lawn care maintenance) and preventative applications of Nimitz to keep the nematode threat away.