What Are These Insects?
Often referred to as roundworms, nematodes are not closely related to true worms. They are multicellular insects with smooth, unsegmented bodies. The nematode species that feed on plants are so tiny that you need a microscope to see them. The adults are often long and slender, although some species appear pear-shaped. These plant parasites are NOT the same roundworms as the filarial nematodes, that infect the human body, spread diseases and cause havok on the immune system.
Some nematodes feed on the outside surfaces of a plant while others burrow into plant tissue. While soil dwelling nematodes are the most common culprits, some species can damage plant roots, stems, foliage, and flowers.
No matter where they feed, these tiny worms can seriously damage crops with their sharply pointed mouth that they use to puncture cell walls. The real damage occurs when a nematode injects saliva into a cell from its mouth and then sucks out the cell contents. The plant responds to the parasitic worm with swellings, distorted growth, and dead areas. Nematodes can also carry viruses and bacterial diseases inject them into plants. The feeding wounds they make also provide an easy entrance point for bacteria and fungi.
Beneficial nematodes that help to create the idea of living soil may feed on the decaying material, insects, or other nematodes.
Related: 10 Most Destructive Garden Insects And How To Get Rid Of Them
What You See
Unlike most other disease causing organisms, plant parasitic nematodes seldom produce any characteristic symptoms. Most of the symptoms that do appear are vague and often resemble those caused by other factors—such as viruses, nutrient deficiencies, or air pollution. Nematodes feeding aboveground may cause leaves, stems, and flowers to be twisted and distorted.
If nematodes are feeding on roots, a plant may be yellowed, wilted, or stunted and infected food crops will usually yield poorly. If you suspect worm injury to roots, carefully lift one of the infected plants and wash off the roots for easier inspection. If nematodes are causing damage, you may see small galls or lesions, injured root tips, root rot, or excessive root branching.
Related: Amazing Pictures Of Insects That Benefit The Whole Ecosystem
How They Spread
Whether they feed above or below ground, most nematodes spend at least part of their life cycle in the soil. While they can’t move very far under their own power, they can swim freely in water and they move more quickly in moist soil—so it's a good idea to keep your soil well-drained, but What The Heck Does Well-Drained Soil Actually Mean? They also spread by anything that can carry particles of infested soil, including tools, boots, animals, and infected plants.
Related: A Garden's 15 Worst Animal Pests + How To Control Them
Beneficial Nematodes
Beneficial nematodes are slender, translucent, can range from 1/25 inch to several inches long and have unsegmented bodies. Their roles in the garden vary. Some are soil dwellers that break down organic matter and are common in a compost pile. These decomposers are easily visible and they are about ¼ inch long. These types of nematodes are effective against a variety of pest species including weevils, clearwing borers, cutworms, sod webworms, chinch bugs, and white grubs. Nematodes can attack and kill these insects by either injecting bacteria that kills the host within 24-48 hours or by entering the host, parasitizing, and feeding on it. When purchasing and applying them to your garden, it is very important to select the right species of nematode because different species are effective against different pests. In addition, nematodes require moist, humid conditions, and fairly warm soil to be most effective. Water all application sites before and after spreading nematodes and follow application instructions carefully.
