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 CaptainLinger
A Fungus Amongus
Registered: 05/25/07
Posts: 1,756
Last seen: 3 years, 9 months
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 Using Beneficial Nematodes for Fungal Gnat Control 
#7423902 - 09/18/07 02:02 PM (16 years, 6 months ago) |
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I recently picked up a sponge of nematodes to treat a severe fungal gnat problem. I heard a few mentions of nematodes from old posts; most just advised removing houseplants and ignoring the problem. Additional problems with black flies in some stored manure finally set me off. After application, I got to wondering how something so small as to fit with 1,000,000 others on a small sponge could possibly control gnats.
Turns out the life cycle of a nematode is pretty neat. It does not kill insects, per se, but rather allows a symbiotic bacteria (different amongst species of nemata) to piggyback. The bacteria is lethal to a very broad range of pest insects, ranging from yes, fungal gnats to black flies.
The nematode, up to 1.1mm wide and a very basic tube-shaped creature, enters the host, spreading bacteria. It incubates while the bacteria takes up to 48 hours to kill the host, then reproduces several times. After nutrients are consumed, later-stage juveniles exit to search for more prey.
If you'd like to learn more, the best page I've come upon in my searching is:
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/pathogens/nematodes.html
Hope someone finds this interesting, or beneficial. You can locate several varieties of predatory nematodes for sale online at reasonable (under $20) prices.
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 ThePyschonaut52
Stranger
Registered: 04/24/07
Posts: 982
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Re: Using Beneficial Nematodes for Fungal Gnat Control [Re: CaptainLinger]
#7424122 - 09/18/07 02:53 PM (16 years, 6 months ago) |
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thanks linger! 
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"In god we trust..."
-I guess we're screwed.
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CosmicFunGuy
ॐconsciousnessॐ
Registered: 06/08/06
Posts: 2,127
Loc: ∞
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Re: Using Beneficial Nematodes for Fungal Gnat Control [Re: CaptainLinger]
#7424156 - 09/18/07 03:00 PM (16 years, 6 months ago) |
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great post +5
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♫ ♪ In the garden of many fields, there is no me or you. There is no right or wrong. There is no up or down. There is no black or white. Everyone is the plow man. Everyone is the seed. Everyone harvests and everyone yields. In the garden of many fields, everyone is one with one love and one love is one with everyone. ♪ ♫
lyrics from: Transglobal Underground - Eyeway Souljah (from Psychic Karaoke)
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CaptainLinger
A Fungus Amongus
Registered: 05/25/07
Posts: 1,756
Last seen: 3 years, 9 months
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Re: Using Beneficial Nematodes for Fungal Gnat Control [Re: CosmicFunGuy]
#7424965 - 09/18/07 06:26 PM (16 years, 6 months ago) |
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In a related vain, are there any microorganisms that selectively feed on molds and not fungi, or inhibit growth?
I mean, the fact that it isn't discussed on the boards, and to my knowledge, isn't widely used in ag. bisporus production would seem to indicate there isn't...
Just figured I'd ask 
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure
Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Using Beneficial Nematodes for Fungal Gnat Control [Re: CaptainLinger]
#7425330 - 09/18/07 07:42 PM (16 years, 6 months ago) |
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Molds are fungi. I don't think there's an organism that can tell perfect from imperfect fungi.
One needs to be careful handling nematodes and growing mushrooms. Many species are death to fungi, while other types of fungi can trap and kill the harmful nematodes.
RR
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Download Let's Grow Mushrooms
semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat
"I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work."
Thomas Edison
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CaptainLinger
A Fungus Amongus
Registered: 05/25/07
Posts: 1,756
Last seen: 3 years, 9 months
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Re: Using Beneficial Nematodes for Fungal Gnat Control [Re: RogerRabbit]
#7425653 - 09/18/07 08:41 PM (16 years, 6 months ago) |
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Eeps. I need to hit the biology books again, apparently. I'd forgotten molds were fungi too; should've specified perfect fungi.
I've seen references to "anti-mold" agar treatments, and was wondering what those were. I presume these are chemicals, either only affecting imperfect fungi, or BS from the poster.
Steinernema feltiae is used to repel fungal gnat infections in a. bisporus cultivation; I assumed it was inert.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure
Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 1 month
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Re: Using Beneficial Nematodes for Fungal Gnat Control [Re: CaptainLinger]
#7427098 - 09/19/07 06:59 AM (16 years, 6 months ago) |
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My favorite method is to cut a lemon in half and leave it near the grow area. The gnats are attracted to the lemon much more than to the mushroom mycelium. You'll see the lemon covered in gnats, and then you sneak up with the vacuum cleaner hose and suck them all up. Works like a charm.
RR
--------------------
Download Let's Grow Mushrooms
semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat
"I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work."
Thomas Edison
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CosmicFunGuy
ॐconsciousnessॐ
Registered: 06/08/06
Posts: 2,127
Loc: ∞
Last seen: 1 year, 4 months
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Re: Using Beneficial Nematodes for Fungal Gnat Control [Re: RogerRabbit]
#7427103 - 09/19/07 07:02 AM (16 years, 6 months ago) |
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Quote:
RogerRabbit said:
My favorite method is to cut a lemon in half and leave it near the grow area. The gnats are attracted to the lemon much more than to the mushroom mycelium. You'll see the lemon covered in gnats, and then you sneak up with the vacuum cleaner hose and suck them all up. Works like a charm.
RR
thanks RR, i'll try that next time they become a problem.
--------------------
♫ ♪ In the garden of many fields, there is no me or you. There is no right or wrong. There is no up or down. There is no black or white. Everyone is the plow man. Everyone is the seed. Everyone harvests and everyone yields. In the garden of many fields, everyone is one with one love and one love is one with everyone. ♪ ♫
lyrics from: Transglobal Underground - Eyeway Souljah (from Psychic Karaoke)
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ThePyschonaut52
Stranger
Registered: 04/24/07
Posts: 982
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Re: Using Beneficial Nematodes for Fungal Gnat Control [Re: CosmicFunGuy]
#7427107 - 09/19/07 07:04 AM (16 years, 6 months ago) |
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lol, thats what i did when i had gnats, only i used a grapefruit
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"In god we trust..."
-I guess we're screwed.
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