Leatherjackets are the most important turf pest in the UK. Adult crane flies appear in August and September. Females live for one week, during which they lay hundreds of eggs into the soil. Larvae hatch after 10 days and feed on both grass roots and grass blades. Main damage occurs in April / May and appears as yellow patches of dead grass. Turf grass may be damaged around aeration holes, which larvae commonly occupy. From end of May feeding activity slows down significantly.

nemastarâ has proven a reliable means of control on leatherjackets over the last 4 years. It contains insect-pathogenic nematodes of the species Steinernema carpocapsae that seek out actively for larvae in the soil. nemastarâ is highly efficient against the young larvae stages (L1, L2) in September and October. In field experiments performed by the University of Kiel up to 82 % of leatherjackets were killed by nematodes.

Benefits

• nemastarâ contains a naturally occurring enemy of leatherjackets.

• It is active only against insect pests and safe for beneficial insects, plants, and humans.

• Courses can stay open even during application.

• nemastarâ eliminates the larvae, before damage occurs.

• Greenkeepers can wait until they see crane flies appear and then decide on the treatment.

• The active ingredient and the formulation of nemastarâ are safe to users, consumers and the environment. There are no restrictions or safety instructions for the usage of nemastar.

• nemastarâ has been used for the last 3 years by German greenkeepers and landscape gardeners. It also provides good control of cutworms (Agrotis spp.).

“I can recommend nematodes against leatherjackets to everyone. We had 1,000 larvae per m2 on several greens last spring and almost none this year.
Nematodes have done a good job….”

Simon van Dijk, Head Greenkeeper Golf Club Stromberg

When to use it

The best time to apply nemastar® is two weeks after the end of the flight. At that time all larvae have hatched and are in a susceptible stage. This is between beginning of September and mid October. Soil temperatures are then still high enough (above 12°C)
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 million for 1000 square metres

Use nozzles with at least 0.8 mm diameter. Pressure should not exceed 5 bar.
Apply in the evening or in dull weather.

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.
Application time: Beginning September - beginning October; nemastarâ is most infective at soil temperatures above 12° C. During flight period leather jackets lay their eggs into the top layer of the turf. Best results will be achieved when treatment takes place 2 to 3 weeks after peak of flight.