Steinernema carpocapsae, beneficial nematode (Sc)
Biocontrol Agent Factsheet
S. carpocapsae is particularly effective against caterpillars, including various webworms, cutworms, armyworms, girdlers, some weevils, and wood-borers. It waits for prey to wander by, rather than chasing them down. This article focuses primarily on the use of Sc nematodes outside, and Sc strains that do not persist long-term after application.
Overview
Pests Targeted: beetle or weevil, Borer, Caterpillar, Cutworm, Fly, Grub, leaf miner
Pest Stage: immature stages of pests (i.e., nymphs and larvae) are most susceptible
Commercially Available? Yes
Scientific Name: Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser)
Biocontrol Agent Type: Insect-killing nematode

Common Names
Beneficial nematode (Sc)
Relative effectiveness
Under the correct circumstances beneficial Sc nematodes can be extremely effective. Most pests included in the Pests Targeted section have been shown in field trials to be reduced by at least 70% when Sc nematodes are applied correctly.
Where to use
Use on a variety of ornamental or edible crops (see list in Pests Targeted section), inside or outside. Apply directly to the soil around the root zone of the plant.
About beneficial nematodes (Sc)
Beneficial nematodes, including Steinernema carpocapsae (or Sc, for short) live in the soil and are lethal parasites of many species of insects including important pests [13]. These nematodes are living organisms, and thus require specific conditions and handling to be effective. The main considerations are matching nematodes with target pests, storage and application temperature, avoidance of exposure to ultraviolet light (sunlight), and avoidance of nematodes drying out too quickly during application [13]. Beneficial nematodes do not harm plants or animals [14].
- Native/Non-native: Native
- Preferred climate: Humid, wet, temperate, mediterranean, subtropical
- Region: So long as the nematode species being used is matched to the appropriate host and temperatures are within the effective range for use, nematodes can be used in a wide variety of regions. Soil conditions can influence beneficial nematode success. Nematodes may have a more difficult time establishing in heavy clay soils and may need more irrigation in sandy soils [15].
- Established: This article focuses on strains of Sc that do not establish long-term in the soil and require re-application.
- Where established: Beneficial nematodes occur throughout North America, but only certain strains are commercially available, and these generally do not persist or establish in the environment.
Beneficial nematodes (Sc) Appearance
Beneficial nematodes are very small and can be hard to see without a loupe/hand lens or microscope. Under magnification nematodes look like very small whitish worms about 0.4-1.5mm in length [14]. Living resting Sc nematodes take a resting ‘J’ shape and may not move unless prodded [15]. If nematodes appear to be not moving and are perfectly straight, they are likely dead [15].

Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes viewed through a microscope under 50x magnification.
Beneficial Nematode Life Cycle
Basic overview of beneficial nematode life cycle. Nematodes are applied as infective juveniles and seek out hosts in order to reproduce.

How to Use Beneficial nematodes (Sc)
Biocontrol category: Augmentative—must be released/applied repeatedly
When to use: To reduce the nematodes’ exposure to sunlight, beneficial nematodes should be applied in the early morning or evening. Typically Sc nematodes can be effective at soil temperatures ranging from 70°F-85°F but be sure to follow directions provided by the supplier [15].
Rate: Follow instructions provided by the supplier. Research indicates a minimum of 25 nematodes per treated cm2, or 250,000 per meter2 (about 24,000 per square foot) should be used [16]. Use a sprayer nozzle with openings larger than 50 μm and an operating pressure less than 2000 kPa (290 psi)[17]. When nematodes are in suspension be sure to frequently (about every 5 minutes) agitate the container to keep the nematodes distributed equally in suspension and to supply them with oxygen [15].
Maximizing effectiveness: The most important considerations are to choose the beneficial nematode species most suited to control the target pest and conditions, and to ensure the correct application rate [13]. Check that nematodes are living with a hand lens or microscope upon arrival and before use. Completely straight nematodes that do not move when prodded are likely dead. Taking a small droplet of the well mixed nematode solution, dilute if need be and evaluate if the mortality rate is over 20%. If you do find a mortality rate of over 20%, nematodes should not be used and the supplier should be contacted [15]. Store according to manufacturer specifications and be mindful of shelf-life. Sunlight (ultraviolet radiation) is extremely detrimental to nematode survival, thus try to apply in the early morning or evening to minimize exposure [18]. Beneficial nematodes are also sensitive to drying out, so timing application with rain or irrigation pre and post application will aid in maximizing effectiveness [19;20]. Typically it is recommended to maintain soil moisture for at least 2 weeks post application. An excellent, extended, guide for using nematodes in crop settings (pdf) is available from Washington State University Extension.
Pest stage: Immature stages of pests (i.e., nymphs and larvae) are most susceptible
Mode of action: Insect-killing nematodes (infects, kills and reproduces in insects)
Conservation: Although there is emerging evidence for strains of persistent beneficial nematodes in some crop systems, nearly all commercially-available beneficial nematodes are not conserved effectively at levels suitable for sustained pest control among years [21;22]. This article focuses on Sc nematodes that need to be re-applied as needed. Unless you are purchasing nematodes from a persistent nematode supplier, assume they will not persist over multiple weeks/seasons.
Compatibility: Compatibility of Sc beneficial nematodes can vary with specific formulations and concentrations, and should be evaluated on a case by case basis. The Steinernema Carpocapsae Compatibility Table summarizes the existing information on compatibility of Sc nematodes with various pesticides and fertilizers.
Risk: Beneficial nematodes do not harm plants or animals. They have been shown to have little impact on nontarget arthropods [23].
Commercially available: Yes. Commercially available from a wide variety of suppliers. Most commercially available nematodes are not persistent will need to be reapplied regularly. For more information see Commercial Availability of Insect-Killing Nematodes.
Any time you use a pesticide, you must read and follow the label directions and comply with all applicable laws and regulations related to pesticide use. Also be sure that any pesticide used is approved for use in your country and state/province.
Pests targeted by beneficial nematode (Sc)
Common Name (part of plant attacked) | Scientific Name | Crop(s) Targeted | Further Information |
---|---|---|---|
Artichoke Plume Moth (Stem, leaf) | Platyptilia carduidactyla*[1] | Artichoke | Artichoke Plume Moth - University of California IPM |
Billbugs (root) | Sphenophorus spp.*[2] | Turf | Turfgrass Insects - Purdue University Extension |
Black vine weevil (root) | Otiorhynchus sulcatus+[28] | Berries, ornamentals | Black Vine Weevil - Ohio State University Extension |
Black Cutworm (leaf) | Agrotis ipsilon*+[3][4][5] | Turf, vegetables | Managing black cutworms in turfgrass - Purdue University // Black cutworm on corn - University of Minnesota Extension |
Peach Tree borer (crown) | Synanthedon exitiosa*#[6] | Peach, cherry, and plum trees | Peachtree Borer - University of Kentucky t // Peachtree Borer - University of California IPM |
Cat fleas (animal) | Ctenocephalides felis+[29] | Yard, turf | Fleas - University of California IPM |
Codling Moth (fruit) | Cydia Pomonella*[7] | Pome Fruit | Codling Moth - University of California IPM // Codling Moth Management - Washington State University |
Cranberry girdler (Roots/ crowns) | Chrysoteuchia topiaria*[8] | Cranberries, turf | Cranberry girdler - Utah State University Extension (pdf) |
Iris borer (Roots/rhizome) | Macronoctua onusta*[9] | Iris | Iris borers - University of Minnesota Extension |
Leaf Miners (leaf) | Liriomyza spp.+[10] | Ornamentals, vegetables | American serpentine leafminer - University of Florida Extension |
*Field efficacy of 70% per cited study
+Lab or greenhouse study with an efficacy of 70% or more
#Special application methodology
Note that this table may change over time
Author
Michael Mueller
Cornell University Department of Entomology
Date: June 2022
[1] Barp, M. A., & Kaya, H. K. (1984). Evaluation of the entomogenous nematode Neoaplectana carpocapsae (= Steinernema feltiae) Weiser (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) and the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner var. kurstaki for suppression of the artichoke plume moth (Lepidoptera: Pterophoridae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 77(1), 225-229.
[2] Dupuy, M. M., & Ramirez, R. A. (2016). Biology and management of billbugs (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in turfgrass. Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 7(1), 6.
[3] Ebssa, L., & Koppenhöfer, A. M. (2012). Entomopathogenic nematodes for the management of Agrotis ipsilon: effect of instar, nematode species and nematode production method. Pest Management Science, 68(6), 947-957.
[4] Shapiro, D. I., Lewis, L. C., Obrycki, J. J., & Abbas, M. (1999). Effects of fertilizers on suppression of black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) damage with Steinernema carpocapsae. Journal of Nematology, 31(4S), 690.
[5] Levine, E., & Oloumi-Sadeghi, H. (1992). Field evaluation of Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) against black cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae in field corn. Journal of Entomological Science, 27(4), 427-435.
[6] Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., Cottrell, T. E., Mizell III, R. F., & Horton, D. L. (2016). Efficacy of Steinernema carpocapsae plus fire gel applied as a single spray for control of the lesser peachtree borer, Synanthedon pictipes. Biological Control, 94, 33-36.
[7] Unruh, T. R., & Lacey, L. A. (2001). Control of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), with Steinernema carpocapsae: effects of supplemental wetting and pupation site on infection rate. Biological Control, 20(1), 48-56.
[8] Smith, K., Fisher, G. C., Poole, A., & Jackson, D. (1993). Effectiveness of" Biosafe-N", Steinernema carpocapsae, for control of cranberry girdler, 1992. Proceedings of the Northwest Insect Management Conference, Portland, OR. https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/conference_proceedings_or_journals/8336h716j?locale=fr
[9] Gill, S. A., & Raupp, M. J. (1997). Evaluation of biological and chemical applications for control of iris borer. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 15(2), 108-110.
[10] Broadbent, A. B., & Olthof, T. H. (1995). Foliar application of Steinernema carpocapsae (Rhabditida: Steinernelnatidae) to control Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) larvae in chrysanthemums. Environmental Entomology, 24(2), 431-435.
[11] Siegel, J., Lacey, L. A., Fritts Jr, R., Higbee, B. S., & Noble, P. (2004). Use of steinernematid nematodes for post harvest control of navel orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae, Amyelois transitella) in fallen pistachios. Biological Control, 30(2), 410-417.
[12] Kard, B. M., Hain, F. P., & Brooks, W. M. (1988). Field suppression of three white grub species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) by the entomogenous nematodes Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis heliothidis. Journal of Economic Entomology, 81(4), 1033-1039.
[13] Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., Han, R., & Dolinksi, C. (2012). Entomopathogenic nematode production and application technology. Journal of Nematology, 44(2), 206–217.
[14] Shapiro-Ilan, D.I., & R. Gaugler. (2010). Nematodes: Rhabditida: Steinernematidae & Heterorhabditidae. In: Shelton, A. (eds) Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America. Cornell University. Formerly available at: http://www.biocontrol.entomology.cornell.edu/pathogens/nematodes.html. And now available at: https://cals.cornell.edu/new-york-state-integrated-pest-management/eco-resilience/biocontrol/biocontrol-biology/insect-killing-nematodes
[15] Miles, C., Blethen, C., Gaugler, R., Shapiro-Ilan, D., & Murray, T. (2012). Using entomopathogenic nematodes for crop insect pest control. Pacific Northwest Extension Publication PNW544, 1-9. https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/using-entomopathogenic-nematodes-for-crop-insect-pest-control
[16] Shapiro-Ilan, D. I., Gouge, D. H., Piggott, S. J., & Fife, J. P. (2006). Application technology and environmental considerations for use of entomopathogenic nematodes in biological control. Biological Control, 38(1), 124-133.
[17] Georgis R., (1990). Formulation and application technology. In Gaugler, R. & Kaya, H.K. (Eds.). (1990). Entomopathogenic Nematodes in Biological Control. (pp. 173-194). CRC press.
[18] Gaugler, R., & Boush, G. M. (1978). Effects of ultraviolet radiation and sunlight on the entomogenous nematode, Neoaplectana carpocapsae. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 32(3), 291-296.
[19] Shetlar, D. J., Suleman, P. E., & Georgis, R. (1988). Irrigation and use of entomogenous nematodes, Neoaplectana spp. and Heterorhabditis heliothidis (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae), for control of Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) grubs in turfgrass. Journal of Economic Entomology, 81(5), 1318-1322.
[20] Suggars Downing, A. (1994). Effect of irrigation and spray volume on efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) against white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 87(3), 643-646.
[21] Neumann, G., & Shields, E. J. (2011). Field persistence of Steinernema carpocapsae Weiser (NY001), Steinernema feltiae Filipjev (Valko) and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Oswego) in alfalfa fields. Great Lakes Entomologist, 44, 42-52.
[22] Lauriault, L. M., Shields, E. J., Testa, A. M., & Porter, R. P. (2020). Persistence of select introduced entomopathogenic nematodes in the US Southwest as potential biological control for whitefringed beetle in alfalfa. Southwestern Entomologist, 45(1), 41-50.
[23] Georgis, R., Kaya, H. K., & Gaugler, R. (1991). Effect of steinernematid and heterorhahditid nematodes (Rhahditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhahditidae) on nontarget arthropods. Environmental Entomology, 20(3), 815-822.
[24] Tofangsazi, N., Cherry, R. H., & Arthurs, S. P. (2014). Efficacy of commercial formulations of entomopathogenic nematodes against tropical sod webworm, Herpetogramma phaeopteralis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Journal of Applied Entomology, 138(9), 656-661.
[25] Kaya, H., & Lindegren, J. (1983). Parasitic nematode controls western poplar clearwing moth. California Agriculture, 37(3), 31-32.
[26] Davidson, J. A., Gill, S. A., & Raupp, M. J. (1992). Controlling clearwing moths with entomopathogenic nematodes: The dogwood borer case study. Journal of Arboriculture, 18(2), 81.
[27] Gill, S. A., & Raupp, M. J. (1994). Using entomopathogenic nematodes and conventional and biorational pesticides for controlling bagworm. Journal of Arboriculture, 20, 318-318.
[28] Kakouli‐Duarte, T., Labuschagne, L., & Hague, N. M. (1997). Biological control of the black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida). Annals of Applied Biology, 131(1), 11-27.
[29] Henderson, G., Manweiler, S. A., Lawrence, W. J., Tempelman, R. J., & Foil, L. D. (1995). The effects of Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser) application to different life stages on adult emergence of the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis (Bouche). Veterinary dermatology, 6(3), 159-163.
- Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes viewed through a microscope under 50x magnification.
- Basic overview of beneficial nematode life cycle. Nematodes are applied as infective juveniles and seek out hosts in order to reproduce. Diagram by Bill Joyner, USDA-ARS.
- White grubs are one of many pests that can be attacked by the beneficial nematode species Steinernema carpocapsae.
- (315) 787-2206
- arc55 [at] cornell.edu
PhD Student
Department of Entomology
- mbm286 [at] cornell.edu