Dr. Pye's Scanmask 10 Million Live Beneficial Nematodes - Kills Over 230 Bugs

For a year I had tried everything to get rid of the fungus gnats in my houseplant soil. I had purchased a bag of soil that was infested with the larvae, and they took over ALL of my plants, killing a number of them. They were out of control. Pesticides and fumigation would only kill the adults, and in another week I'd be right back where I started. Finally I did some research on the internet and read that nematodes were one of the best means of controlling fungus gnat larvae long term, but none of the local garden centers carried them. Hirt's was the only place I could find that carried Scanmask. The product arrived promptly and has worked beautifully! No more bugs! It kinda creeped me out at first to think of putting worms in the soil of my house plants, but they are microscopic and not harmful to people or pets. Besides, I'd rather have microscopic worms than fungus gnats flying in my face all day. There were a few things I wish the package instructions would have included: How to make up a smaller batch if you are only using part of the carton (it says it will treat 1050 4" pots!) and how much of the mix to put in each pot. I think I over did it, because it didn't go nearly that far, but it worked either way so I'm happy. I tell everyone I know that has houseplants and has noticed little bugs that look like fruit flies flying around to use this product. It is the only thing that works!

We used these last summer on the yard to help control white grubs (various beetle larvae). We live in Florida, and every type of bug grows down here. Used to be able to dig up a shovel of soil and it always had grubs of various sizes in it. We were planting fruit trees in the yard, so we got to see this several times. The nematodes really worked. We spray-applied with a hose-end sprayer and then watered a lot to make sure they made it down into the soil. Not too long after applying, a few weeks later, maybe a month, the next tree we were planting, we noticed far fewer grubs...we actually had to dig around and look for grubs on purpose, instead of them being visible in every shovel-full of dirt. And we didn’t find many. A wonderful side-effect is that we had fewer ants. We went through a canister of orthene every month trying to keep the fire ants at bay. We tried to keep them from encroaching on the patio area, and from around the fruit trees. After applying, we noticed fewer and fewer new mounds, and eventually we had no more fear of walking around in the yard. We’re noticing the ants starting to come back, and we found some grubs under a fruit tree, so it’s time to apply again!!

This product did a very good job for me and had almost eradicated gnats in my massive indoor infestation. 3 weeks after the treatment and I so see a few survivors, but the nematodes have destroyed hundreds if not thousands. I’ve given it only 4 stars because there are a few survivors, the relatively high price and the need to do more than one treatment and the relatively demanding application process. I do however find it to be a very effective method. I’ve applied it in my two indoor growing tents where I organically grow exotic herbs. The tents were infested with hundreds if not thousands of fungus gnats as it has taken me a while to realize what’s been going on. During that period of time the gnats have kept multiplying… My indoor setting includes about 35 2-7 gallon pots. Some tips: 1. Use in conjunction with other methods. Yellow stickers, electric zappers and BT bacteria have helped greatly to restrain the infestation but haven’t completely stopped it. 2. Order nematodes when whether can support their survival in transit. 3. Use ASAP. I used instantly upon arrival of nematodes. 4. Follow instructions for you situation. 5. Keep temperature in the indoor environment ideal for the nematodes to last as long as possible or needed. Moisten the potting mix to further support nematodes and consider dimming or shutting off lights. I did for 36 hours. 6. Give nematodes a few days or even a week to take affect. Please check out the video!

These babies are incredible. I bought a new house last year, and all last summer I couldn't spend more than two minutes in the yard without dousing myself in deep woods off. Gnats in particular were horrible, large cylindrical swarms would park themselves in specific areas and refused to budge As soon as it warmed up this spring the gnats immediately came out in force again. After doing research I bought these nematodes. Within 2 weeks - no more gnats! As a bonus I'm sitting outside on 4th of July in Indianapolis after a rainy spring/early summer and I'm amazed I haven't had a mosquito bite in ages. Typically I'm dead meat, especially sweating after working out or yard work Follow the application instructions carefully. I doused it too heavily on a few sections of lawn and it browned out a couple weeks. But rainfall restored it, nothing permanent I now keep 100% organic in the yard, and these things work much better than chemicals I've used in the past (malathion e.g.) so it's a real blessing. Good stuff!