"JB" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 17:40:00 -0000, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

? wrote
I believe nematodes can be a very effective way of control slugs
(previous posts largely agree). However...

After a few applications do the nematodes reproduce? I.e. are
there
diminishing returns after, e.g., three applications?

Do nematodes get totally wiped out after winter (British)?

I would be interested to hear if someone had tried a course of
nematodes succesfully one year, and not bothered the next - but
noticed
a continued decrease of slugs.


What makes you think they would be effective the first year? They
weren't
for me and that's after two applications. I am convinced they are a
waste of
money, and that's after using it according to instructions.

I used them last year and they seemed to help but the point is
obviously that we don't know how bad they would have been without
using the nematodes. Was the decrease due to nematodes, weather,
bird
predation etc?

A hunt on the web found

http://www.maths.gla.ac.uk/~mab/Bioc...Modelling.html

which suggests that they do work but only reduce populations by
about
25 - 30% and require repeated application.

In what way would my Hostas be improved if I reduced the slug attacks
by 25 -30%?
I don't consider 3 holes per leaf any better than 4 holes per leaf.

Somone else on this group
raised the question of how far do slugs travel. Is it worth spending
all that money for a reduction of 30% if they are only going to be
replaced by slugs from the neighbours garden?

I have never ever seen a report in which the writer was unequivocally
convinced that the use of nematodes was successful in getting rid of
slugs and snails.
In other words, it is somewhat dubious as to whether the use of
nematodes is a good idea.
In fact, to me it sounds like just a piece of expensive organic
gardening boloney.

Franz