Supernemos: A Natural Alternative to Chemical Insecticide

• Published in: Outlooks on pest management Vol. 26; no. 3; pp. 102 - 104
• Main Author: Al-Amidi, Abdul Hamid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Saffron Walden Research Information 01.06.2015; Research Information Ltd
• Subjects: Beneficial Nematodes; Bio-Pesticides; Insect Pests; Pesticides; Soil Pests; Supernemos
• ISSN: 1743-1026; 1743-1034
• DOI: 10.1564/v26_jun_03

All living thing are subject to predation, parasitism, or competition from other creatures. For many years scientist studied these interactions and this led to the identification of many potential opportunities for the use of living organisms as biopesticides to protect agricultural crops against insect pests, fungal, bacterial and viral diseases, weeds, nematodes and molluscs. A range of bio-pesticide products is now available commercially for control of insect pests, fungal and bacterial diseases, and weeds. Most of these bio-pesticides have been used to combat the pests which spend all or some part of their life cycle above the soil that is the pests which damage the foliage of our plants or our agriculture crops. However, there are only few bio-insecticides agents available in the market to combat the invisible damaging insect pest (soil-dwelling insects) such as vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) larvae, chafer (Rhizotrogus majalis) larvae, large pine weevils (Hylobius abietis), cutworm (Agrotis spp.), leatherjackets (Tipula oleracea) and many more. Beneficial nematodes (Bio-insecticidal) can be used as alternatives to chemical pesticides. Beneficial nematodes are safe for animals and plants. Nematode applications do not require masks or other safety equipment. They do not leave any residues and do not pollute underground water or rivers. Most biological control agents may require days or weeks to kill the insect pest. However, once nematodes penetrate the target pest, they kill it, in just 24 to 48 hours. Field studies show that these nematodes do not attack beneficial insects such as bees, bumblebees, and ground beetles. The other benefit is nematodes do not require specialised application equipment as they are compatible with standard agrochemical equipment including pressurised mist and aerial sprayers. Application via irrigation systems has encouraged commercial growers to favour using nematodes.