Beneficial Nematodes for Horticultural Crops: Practical Biological Control
Nov 07, 2025
Entomopathogenic nematodes have become one of the most versatile biological tools in horticulture. Their ability to search for and infect soil-dwelling larvae, pupae hidden in growing media, and pests protected within stems, containers or root zones makes them a natural fit for situations where chemical coverage is limited or restricted. When applied under suitable conditions, they deliver reliable, residue-free suppression and integrate smoothly into modern IPM programmes across a wide range of crops and growing systems.
Download the Guide to Beneficial Nematodes for Horticulture here.
*This downloadable uses Koppert's international product names such as Palmanen and Scia-rid. At Natural Enemies the same nematode species are supplied uner our North American product names (Entonem, Capsanem Larvanem). Only the branding differs, the species, quality, and performance are identical. If Scia-rid fits you needs, click here. For Palmanem, click here.
Control Across Protected Vegetables
Nematodes are widely used in greenhouse vegetable production, nethouses and tunnels against key pests such as Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta), sciarid larvae (Bradysia spp.), Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), mirids including Nesidiocoris tenuis, and mole cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa). Their strength lies in the ability to target larval and pupal stages hidden in substrate or soil, where they can move freely and locate hosts with precision.
Reliable Performance in Ornamentals and Nursery Stock
Container ornamentals, potted plants and nursery-grown shrubs benefit from nematode applications against shore flies, sciarids, noctuid caterpillars, white grubs, and several weevil species including Otiorhynchus sulcatus and Otiorhynchus spp.. Cooler production environments also benefit from cold-tolerant nematode strains, which maintain activity at lower temperatures and provide strong control during early-season production or overwintering periods.
Support for Soft Fruit Production
Soft fruit systems face recurring pressure from vine weevils, sciarids and a range of caterpillar species. Nematodes perform well in these crops because they remain active in the moist substrates and sheltered root zones typical of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and other protected soft-fruit setups. Their ability to locate larvae feeding around the crown and root systems provides growers with a dependable biological option that avoids residue concerns.
Urban Greens, Amenity Plantings and Tree Crops
Public green spaces and landscape plantings increasingly rely on biological alternatives where chemical restrictions or environmental sensitivity limit conventional options. Nematodes are used here to suppress pests such as box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis), sycamore lace bug (Corythuca ciliata), oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea), palm moth (Paysandisia archon), and palm weevils including Rhynchophorus ferrugineus and R. palmarum. These pests often spend critical life stages deep within stems, galleries or soil—precisely the environments nematodes are effective in reaching.
Application in the Mushroom Industry
Nematodes also play a role in mushroom cultivation, where sciarid larvae (Lycoriella castanescens) can cause significant crop disruption. Their ability to move through moist casing layers and locate larvae makes them an effective biological alternative in a sector that benefits from clean, residue-free interventions.
How Nematodes Achieve Control
After application, nematodes actively move through soil or substrate in search of a host. Once contact is made, they enter the insect through natural openings and release symbiotic bacteria. These bacteria halt feeding almost immediately and cause rapid mortality. The nematodes reproduce inside the host, and newly emerged juveniles disperse to locate additional pests. This natural infection cycle is the foundation of their effectiveness across such diverse horticultural settings.
A Practical Biological Choice Across the Horticultural Sector
Nematodes fit seamlessly into production programmes because they can be used alongside most crop-protection inputs, including beneficial insects and many chemical tools. Their adaptability, combined with decades of refinement in commercial rearing and strain selection, makes them one of the most dependable biological controls available for professional horticulture.
Shop all Nematodes
To explore pest–nematode combinations across protected crops, ornamentals, soft fruit, amenity greens and mushrooms, you can download the full reference here:
Download: Beneficial Nematodes in Horticultural Crops
