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Produced by Hydro-Gardens
Hydro-Gardens raises “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” to insure freshness, quality and prompt shipping to our customers. They are reared on ‘insect hosts’. Only those “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” that promptly kill host insects, are selected for reproduction. We know they work, because we document their behavior. If “Guardian” can enter a host insect, they will kill the insect within 24 – 48 hours, then reproduce within the insect, thus providing long-term control.

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What is it?
Technically, nematodes are one of the most abundant groups of living creatures in the world, with species ranging from pests of plants and animals to beneficial species like the ones we offer. This microscopic creature can survive in oxygen rich water or in the root zone of your plants. Our nematodes will not harm plants, animals or humans.

Why Use Nematodes?
The one problem that we perceive with most biological control items is they only work for specific pests. If a different pest enters your operation and you do not have a specific predator or parasite for that pest; this may force you to use an insecticide, probably killing your beneficials along with the pest. The biological battlefield needed a ‘broad spectrum’ killer to help combat these ‘other’ pests. We believe our Nematodes provide this needed ‘broad spectrum’ biological insect control.

Hydro-Gardens Nematodes
Hydro-Gardens raises our Nematodes to insure freshness, quality and prompt shipping to our customers. They are reared on ‘insect hosts’. Only those that promptly kill host insects, are selected for reproduction. Our “Quality Control” measures continually monitor these nematodes and we will only select those that are of the highest standards and will be the most aggressive solution to your problem. We know they work, because we document their behavior. If our Nematodes can enter a host insect, they will kill the insect within 24 – 48 hours, then reproduce within the insect, thus providing long-term control.

Our Application Rates
We recommend 1,000,000 nematodes per 2000 square feet (500 per sq/ft). When you start comparing our suggested application rates to that of some other competitors, you will find we recommend much less. The reason for this is that the initial studies that were done on nematodes were done in comparison to chemicals that were being used. They were testing them based on a 72 hour kill rate (just like the chemicals recommended). In order to get the same kill rate as the chemicals, they claim you need to apply at a rate of 25,000 nematodes per square foot. These tests didn’t take in to account “Long Term Control”. Our nematodes will reproduce, where the chemicals have to be reapplied. Over time, our nematodes will still be there working for you in much larger numbers than you originally applied. In addition, our nematodes have been reared to be more aggressive and kill quicker than other competitors nematodes. This is true because our nematodes are reared on “Live Hosts” for seed-stock and commercial production. Most other commercially available nematodes are produced in an incubator using an artificial diet.

What this means to you? Insects can build up a resistance to chemicals, but they cannot build up anything to our nematodes. Only about 5% of other commercially available nematodes might reproduce. This means you will have to buy more and spend your time spraying again. We provide you with a quality product that will be around for the long haul. We know that our nematodes will be able to control your problem areas with a few applications. Within a month or two, your entire area should be protected, this saves you time and money.

Guardian NematodesSteinernematid Spp.Lawn Patrol – Heterorhabditatid Spp. also availableWhat is it?
Technically, “Guardian” is a sub strain of the Steinernematidae family, and “Lawn Patrol” is a sub strain of the Heterorhabditatid family. Beneficial, entomogenous (insect parasitic) nematodes. Nematodes are one of the most abundant groups of living creatures in the world, with species ranging from pests of plants and animals to beneficial species like this one. This microscopic creature can survive in oxygen rich water or in the root zone of your plants. “Guardian / Lawn Patrol” will not harm plants, animals or humans.

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What does it attack?
“Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” actively searches for insects, insect pupa and insect larvae in places that are constantly moist. Among the more than 250 susceptible insect pests are: cutworms, corn rootworms, strawberry root weevils, European corn borers, white grubs, sod webworms, termites, and many other insects that spend part of their life cycle in the root zone. We use “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” to control thrips, “fungus gnats” (relating to several thousand species of flies in the same family ) and other root zone pests. “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” do not kill other types of nematodes. We have been rearing beneficial nematodes since 1986. We have located a sub-strain we feel is far superior to any used in the past. Under ideal conditions, “Guardian” can survive 90 days or more without a host insect. Once “Guardian” locate and enter a host, it will kill the host, reproduce within it and the offspring will exit in search of more host insects; repeating the cycle.

What do they attack?
“Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” actively searches for insects, insect pupa and insect larvae in places that are constantly moist. “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” can be used to control;

Japanese beetle grubs White grubs Army worms Cut worms Measuring worms (loopers) Southern rootworm
Spruce budworm Webworms Sod webworms Wire worms Chinch bugs Algae gnats
Fungus gnats Gall gnats Bark beetle Bess beetle Banded cucumber beetle Click beetle
Colorado potato beetle Flea beetles Green June beetle Pine beetle May/June beetles Mexican bean beetle
Scarab beetle Southern pine beetle Black fly European Crane Fly Fruit fly Saw flies
European apply sawfly Field cricket Morman cricket Southern mole cricket Tawny mole cricket Common cockchafer
European chafer Masked chafers Rose Chafer’s Carpenter moth Codling moth Annual bluegrass weevil
Black vine weevil Boll weevil Pecan weevil Pine weevil Sweetpotato Weevil Peach tree borer
Round headed borers Stem borer Wood borers Billbugs Bluegrass billbug Hunting billbug
Imported fire ant Assassin bugs Stink bugs Apple leaf roller Black turf grass ataenius Gall midges
Thrip

Many other insects that spend part of their life cycle in the root zone can also be controlled. “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” do not kill other types of nematodes. We have been rearing beneficial nematodes since 1986, and have located a sub-strain we feel is far superior to those used in the past. Under ideal conditions, “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” can survive more than 90 days without a host insect. Once “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” locate and enter a host, it will kill the host, reproduce within it and the offspring will exit in search of more host insects; repeating the cycle.

Why use “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes”?
(for application rates and more information Tode Paper (PDF Format)

The one problem that we perceive with most biological control items is they only work for specific pests. If a different pest enters your operation and you do not have a specific predator or parasite for that pest; this may force you to use an insecticide, probably killing your beneficials along with the pest. The biological battlefield needed a ‘broad spectrum’ killer to help combat these ‘other’ pests. We believe “Guardian” provides this needed ‘broad spectrum’ biological insect control.

Storage and Application
(for application rates and more information Tode Paper (PDF Format)

“Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” are usually applied in the evening, directly into the soil or growing media, however some growers spray their foliage in the evenings and report successful results against some insects on their foliage by using Organic Stylet Oil to protect the nematodes from desiccation. “Guardian” can be temporarily stored in a refrigerator at 40o-50oF. You should mix the package into one gallon of water to create a concentrate. “Guardian” can withstand pressures up to 300 PSI, therefore, you can apply them using your injector system, or dilute them with more water and use a pump sprayer, hose-end sprayer, watering can or pail. They will survive in oxygen rich water; such as nutrient film technique (NFT) systems, but may “drown” if you leave them in standing water for more than 24 hours. “Watering in” will help “Guardian / Lawn Patrol Nematodes” migrate to the protected area within root zone. Great for the greenhouse or outdoors!!

(SDS on Guardian, Gnat Patrol or Lawn Patrol) Nematodes SDS PDF Format