I don't know too much about beneficial nematodes, but if you introduce them into your soil, don't they feed on the grubs & reproduce right there in the decomposing bodies? I was just looking at my total source of nematode info, which is the Gardens Alive! catalog, & they say the best time to introduce the nematodes is 2-8 wks before the first frost, then they are in the soil & ready to pounce on the grubs in spring, so presumably they can survive over winter.

Let me know if I have misunderstood this information, as I was going to recommend these nematodes to my brother, who has a real problem with Jap beetles & chafers.

Sue

From what I understand, they die overwinter even in Fl soils. Because they start "working" in 48 hours, I assume Garden's Alive meant for them to have attacked all the grubs that would otherwise be overwintering.
The problem with waiting till spring, (when they would survive longer), is you have to wait for the soil to warm up to about 70 for the heterorhabditis nematodes (which Garden's Alive has), and over 50 degrees soil temp for steinernema, which are slower moving and not as agressive. I do know that in north FL's sandy soil the ones from Garden's Alive worked VERY well applied in spring. They even took out all my fire ants there! I'm going to have a harder time of it in this heavy soil here.

What about Milky Spore? I've read it lasts up to 10 years in the soil.

Isn't ther something else to feed nematodes? Or can't you buy some type of grub from a pet or bait store? The thought of overwintering beetles hasn't quite settled here yet!

Zanne,
I suppose that you have done as I just did and put all combinations of your subject in Search. The commercial growers are holding their beneficial nematode information closely. So, all I can work on is a hunch. I think they are feeding their wee beasties protozoa. I could be way off base and then....I could be close to the answer. My biology days are a distant past. However, a trip to a biologist at a nearby college could probably give you an easy protozoa raising technique. I do not remember that it is too difficult. Sometimes my hunches work and it certainly would be a very easy feeding method of a few drops of protozoa laden water every few days on the soil. Check it out.

Here's a link to Ohio State's beneficial nematode site. There's more info than you ever wanted to know about these guys.

Insect Parasitic Nematodes

LOl ,i read the topic of raising jap beetles ,Well i figured at first the little men in white jackets will take you away for sure. How ever reading on it might just work for you .Good luck

Japanese Beetles are a pest. Why would you try to raise them? They eat my nectarines, I hate them.

You have no idea what you are doing. Just google a little bit you will find what Japanese beetles can do. It wiped out many orchards last year.

Read the original post closely. He is raising them as food for parasitic nematodes that he will release in his yard to kill Japanese beetle grubs.

Any one know how far north can the nematodes be used? what zone?

thanks