The garden chafer is the second most common turf pest in the UK. Adults emerge from late May to early June. They mate immediately and females burrow back into the ground to deposit 80 % of their eggs. Therefore, controlling the adults doesn’t prevent damage, since they have already laid most of their eggs.

Eggs hatch 3-5 weeks after appearance of the chafers. Damage is caused from mid July, when the grubs move to the upper soil layer and cut off the grass roots. From mid-August badgers, foxes and birds damage the turf while searching for the protein-rich grubs.

nema-greenâ has proven over years as the best means of control on chafer grubs. It contains insect-pathogenic nematodes of the species Heterorhabditis bacteriophora that seek out actively for grubs in the soil. Attracted by CO2 emissions of the grubs they enter into their body, kill them and reproduce inside the cadaver. After two weeks thousands of new nematodes emerge from the dead insect and infect further grubs.

In field experiments performed by the University of Kiel up to 95 % of grubs were killed by nematodes.

Due to nematode-recycling inside the infected grubs, control rates increase continuously in the weeks following the treatment.

Benefits
• nema-greenâ contains a naturally occurring enemy of chafer grubs.
• It is active only against insect pests
• safe for beneficial insects, plants, and humans
• Courses can stay open during application.

• nema-greenâ has been used for over 12 years by professional horticulturists, greenkeepers and landscape gardeners in Europe and USA.

• Its control potential is proven and well researched.

• Nematode-infected grubs colour red and superintendants can easily follow the ongoing infection.

• There are no restrictions or safety instructions for the usage of Nema-green.

When to use
The best time to apply nema-green® is from mid July to the end of September, when grubs are in the upper soils layer and temperatures are above 12°C. The earlier it is applied, the better the control.

Application rates:
Standard dose rate: 500,000 nematodes per m2
Per hectare: 10 packs 500 million in 600 litres of water (=2 spray tanks)
Per 5,000 m2: 5 packs 500 million in 300 litres of water
Per 1,000 m2: One pack in at least 60 litres of water.
Pack Size: 500 milion nematodes for 1000 square metres

Apply on moist turf and soil. Irrigate with 2-5 litres of water/ m2 after application to wash the nematodes through the thatch layer into the soil.