pest insects, including fungus gnats. Luckily, there is
a company, Orcon (Organic Control, Inc.), that offers
a wide variety of biological, natural, and organic con-
trol measures. to specifically combat caterpillars, scale, mealybugs,
white flies and spider mites. Amidst its impressive
artillery of biological defenses are Orcon’s beneficial
nematodes.
Orcon
Organic Control, Inc., or Orcon, began offering a
complete line of beneficial bugs in 1976. The folks at
Orcon understand that every pest insect has a natural
predator. Put another way, for every pest insect there
is another insect or or-
ganism that will naturally
keep that pest insect’s
population in check. In-
door gardens and hobby
greenhouses allow for
heightened control over
the garden’s parameters,
but they also prevent
natural predators from
doing their jobs. Orcon’s
mission is to provide hor-
ticulturists with natural
predators and organic
solutions so they do not
have to rely on prod-
ucts that can be harmful
to themselves and the
planet.
Over the years Orcon
has expanded its prod-
uct line to include soil
amendments, animal
repellents and other ben-
eficial insects, like mason
bees for promoting pol-
lination. In a nutshell,
Orcon focuses on work-
ing with Mother Nature
to attain a healthy garden
that is also safe for the grower, children, and pets.
Orcon offers a large assortment of beneficial insects,
including ladybugs, green lacewings, praying mantis,
and predatory mites. It also offers beneficial insects Beneficial Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes are microscopic organisms
that destroy pest insects living in a soil or medium.
Beneficial nematodes will seek out and destroy more
than 230 different types of soil dwelling and wood
boring insects, includ-
ing Japanese beetles,
cut worms, wire worms,
weevils, white grubs,
fungus gnat larva, subter-
ranean termites, crane
flies and many others.
An additional benefit is
controlling grubs will also
eliminate the food source
for red blooded animal
pests such as moles, rac-
coons, crows and skunks.
The best thing about ben-
eficial nematodes is that
they are very effective,
yet completely safe for
people, plants, pets and
the environment. They
are also compatible with
other beneficial insects,
including ladybugs, green
lacewings, praying man-
tis, and earthworms.
Each of Orcon’s bene-
ficial nematode containers
includes over seven mil-
lion live beneficial nema-
todes. There are three
different ways a grower
can apply beneficial nematodes in his or her garden.
How a gardener applies beneficial nematodes will
depend on the particular pest insect he or she is try-
ing to treat. The three methods are: top dressing for
8
www.GardenandGreenhouse.net
May 2018