The product, Ostranil, is not currently available in the United States. Research continued in France for over 15 years, culminating with a commercial product. The nematode enters the shell sac of the host slug and causes the slug to stop feeding, thereby preventing slug damage. A wide range of crops have been protected from slug damage in field trials where the nematode was applied to moist soil or incorporated into drier soil. Non-target molluscs living in field margins adjacent to treated areas were not affected.
Commercialization is the next step.
It appears the species that was evaluated was D. catalinae and not D. pusillus . The fungus Paecilomyces fumosoroseus can be used effectively during certain phases of ornamental plant production to manage both whiteflies and twospotted spider mite, but the most important obstacle to its implementation is its lack of registration in Europe and the United States. Practical use of predaceous mites to manage twospotted spider mites on strawberries - Glenn Scriven, Biotactics, Inc., Riverside, CA Large scale use of the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis for control of twospotted spider mite on strawberry was initiated in California in the late 1980's. Programs were developed by trial and error, with the aid of pest control advisors, predator producers and university Extension personnel. State University Thrips, although quite erratic in infestation levels, can severely impact maple syrup production for up to three years following moderate to heavy defoliation.