Nematodes damage plants and other living organisms through their feeding process. Nematodes feed by puncturing the cell walls of the bacteria, fungi, or other pest and sucking out the internal goo.
What do nematodes treat?
Nematodes are the organic grower's biological weapon. They kill pests such as slugs, vine weevil and ants – without using harmful toxic chemicals. What are they? Nematodes are microscopic creatures, that act as parasites on other insects.
What do nematodes feed off?
Free living species, both aquatic and terrestrial, eat algae, fungi, bacteria, plants, tiny animals, and dead organic matter, and some are great recyclers. Many nematodes, both herbivores and carnivores, feed by inserting a rigid “stylet” into their food source—in some the stylet is hollow and acts as a drinking straw.
What do nematodes do in the soil?
Nematodes help distribute bacteria and fungi through the soil and along roots by carrying live and dormant microbes on their surfaces and in their digestive systems. Food source. Nematodes are food for higher level predators, including predatory nematodes, soil microarthropods, and soil insects.
How do nematodes work?
The nematodes enter the larvae via the mouth, anus, respiratory openings, or directly through the body wall of the pest. Next, nematodes eject their bacteria inside the pest's body. These bacteria multiply and cause blood poisoning of the pest, leading to death.
