Across the corn belt depending on time of year | Biocontrol nematodes find their prey by following the CO2 gradient from the insect breathing while in the soil. Nematodes track down insects following this gradient and enter the insect through the "breathing holes" called spiracles. Once inside, the nematode releases a chemical to suppress the insect immune system and release a symbiotic bacteria which kills the insect, dissolves the internal organs of the insect and preserves the insect with anti-microbial chemicals. The nematodes lay in the nutrient soup, form sexual forms and reproduce. An average sized rootworm larvae produced ~20,000 new nematodes. When the food resources are depleted, the new nematodes burst out and search for new insect prey. Nematodes swim on the water film on the soil particles to move around. When the soil is very dry, nematodes have difficulty moving around searching for prey.
On their own, biocontrol nematodes move about 3 ft a year. A single tillage will move them more than 100 yards due to soil movement. |
Biocontrol nematodes - Rootworm - Persistent Biocontrol
