Sc Nematodes
10% off your first 4 orders, then 15% off every order after.
Heads up—this is just an estimate. We only ship when the bugs are happy and ready to travel (Mon–Thurs). If a colony needs a beat to peak, or we're propagating a fresh batch, your order might hold up to a week. Treatment bottles jump the line when you've got an active infestation.
Sc Nematodes
At A Glance
Steinernema carpocapsae (Sc) is the "Ambush Predator" of the nematode family. Unlike the deep-diving Hb or the cruising Sf, Sc nematodes have a unique behavior called "nictation." They stand on their tails near the soil surface and wave back and forth, waiting for a pest to brush past them. When a mobile insect touches them, they latch on and attack instantly. This makes them the absolute best choice for highly mobile pests that travel across the soil or live in the grassy thatch layer, such as fleas, caterpillars, and sod webworms.
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Scientific Name: Steinernema carpocapsae
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Best For: Fleas, Caterpillars (Cutworms, Armyworms, Sod Webworms), and Crane Fly Larvae.
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Safe For: Pets, humans, and plants.
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Key Feature: The "Stand and Wait" Ambush—they latch onto pests moving across the surface.
Target Pests
Environmental Needs
Selection Guide
How to Use
How They're Shipped
Mix, drench, keep it moist.
How to apply your nematodes, and how to read the results over the next few weeks. Nematodes need water to move, soil to live in, and protection from sunlight — the routine is built around all three.
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01
Open the box right away
Bring the package indoors as soon as it arrives. Don't leave it on a hot porch, in a cold mailbox, or in direct sun. Nematodes ship in a moist carrier — sponge, gel, or clay depending on the species — and the carrier should still feel cool and damp on arrival.
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Apply now, or refrigerate
Best results come from applying the same day. If you need to wait, store the unopened package in the refrigerator (not the freezer) at 38–42°F. Most species stay viable for two to four weeks refrigerated; check the product description for the exact window. Pull from the fridge an hour before mixing to take the chill off.
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Mix with cool water
Dissolve the carrier in a bucket of cool, dechlorinated water — tap water is usually fine if it's been sitting out for an hour, or use rainwater if you have it. Stir gently to suspend the nematodes evenly. Use a watering can with the rose removed, or a backpack sprayer with any fine screens taken out (mesh finer than 50 will strain them out). See the product description for water volume per package.
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04
Drench at dusk or on a cloudy day
Nematodes die in UV light within minutes, so timing matters more here than anywhere else. Pre-water the soil so it's already damp, then drench evenly across the target area — pots, beds, or lawn. Keep stirring the bucket as you go so the nematodes don't settle to the bottom.
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05
Keep the soil moist for two weeks
Nematodes move through water films around soil particles to find their hosts. Dry soil stops them. Water lightly every two or three days for the first two weeks — enough to keep the top few inches damp, not soaked. Pest reduction shows up over one to four weeks depending on species and pest. If you don't see improvement by week four, that's when to email us.
Something visibly wrong on arrival?
Carrier that arrived dried out, warm to the touch, or with a sour smell — take a photo and email info@fgmnnursery.com within 24 hours of delivery with your order number. We'll replace or refund without question.
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FAQ
What is your Live Delivery Guarantee?
We guarantee that your beneficial insects will arrive healthy and ready to work. Because we are shipping live organisms, we use packaging and expedited shipping to ensure their safety. In the rare event that your order is compromised during transit, please take a photo of the package and contact us within 24 hours of delivery so we can make it right.
Will this kill adult fleas on my dog?
Can I use them on indoor carpet?
How do they kill caterpillars?
Can I inject them into trees?
Are they safe for my cat/dog to walk on?
Do they work on Ticks?
Help! I'm overwhelmed
Yeah, it's a lot the first time you're using predatory mites. Please email us at info@fgmnnursery.com and we'll be happy to help!
I don’t see anything moving in my bottle or sachet. Does that mean they’re dead?
Not at all! In fact, go ahead and deploy them.
Predatory mites are microscopic (often less than 0.5mm) and naturally blend into their carrier medium (bran or vermiculite).
- For Bottles: The mites often huddle in the center of the bottle for insulation during transit.
- For Sachets: These are "slow-release" nurseries. The mites stay tucked deep inside the breeding media and emerge one by one over 2–4 weeks. Seeing an "empty-looking" sachet or bottle is not proof of a loss; it is simply how they are packaged for maximum survival.
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