Bad Nematodes Most nematodes are harmless, but a handful of troublesome species attack the outside surfaces of plants, burrowing into the plant tissue and causing root, stem, folar and even flower damage. Other nematodes live inside the plants for part of their lives, causing damage from the inside out.
What are the disadvantages of nematodes?
Beneficial nematodes are natural and effective for getting rid of target pests, but they have disadvantages, too, including: They only work for pests in your soil. They will not harm pests that live and feed on plant leaves (unless those pests have a soil-dwelling stage in their life cycle).
Can nematodes be a problem?
Soil-dwelling nematodes are the most common culprits, but some species can damage plant roots, stems, foliage, and flowers. No matter where they feed, these tiny worms can seriously damage to crops with their sharply pointed mouths by puncturing cell walls.
Are nematodes bad for the environment?
Of those, only some are parasitic and damaging to crop plants. So, no, not all are harmful nematodes, and most are normal members of the soil ecosystem. In fact, many of the nematodes in your garden soil are beneficial to your garden. They eat some harmful species of bacteria, fungi, and even the larvae of insects.
What are some negative effects caused by nematodes on their environment?
Besides field and vegetable crops, nematodes damage fruit trees, forest trees, lawns, golf courses, ornamental flowers, shrubs, and home garden plants. It is impossible to determine the economic benefits of controlling nematodes on these plants, but estimates are in the billions of dollars.
