I posted this in another forum (pets) but thought you folks might have an answer too.
I've started to use more organic practices in my yard and garden with very good results. Each year I release praying mantis and ladybugs and they seem to have reduced the population of those pesky undesirable on the plants. I've almost completely switched to organic fertilizer but I have yet to try nematodes (a little pricey for me). Several companies seem to believe that nematodes to a good job at reducing fleas. Have any of you folks had any experience with nematodes specifically for fleas who would be willing to share their thoughts? I'd love to see some technical data if anyone could steer my in the right direction.
Thanks
Nematodes for fleas?
I have not tried nematodes to control fleas....but we did try another species as a control for thrips in our research greenhouses.
Generally speaking, if you are looking for a complete eradication of a pest, nematodes and other biologicals are not going to do it. If you have a certain threshold level that you are comfortable with, they may work.
In my situation, with indoor/outdoor dogs and cats, just controlling the flea hatch in the yard would not be sufficient. They would still be carried into the house where the biological controls would not be effective. I suppose it depends on your circumstances and, maybe, climate.
Here is an initial evaluation from the University of Florida IPM:
http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/applying/methods/biocontrol/fleanematode.shtml
We have used the nematodes for fleas and found it did the job. Now our dogs fun free so it would not help that much. It's one of those things that you hate to spend then money on something you can not see but it worked for us.
If Big Sandy is indeed sandy, nematodes might do well there - according to the article. I assume these nematodes can also exist without the fleas? Otherwise they would wipe out their own means of support when they offed the fleas - not a successful parasite.
I do admit living in the desert, I dont have to worry much about fleas... Thanks Goodness
Catscan,
That is exactly the type of information I was hoping to receive. Thank you.
Big Sandy is eight miles away and we are in deep red clay. I think they run out of food supply but they did work for the year that we applied.