Rigby Taylor has been appointed as the exclusive distributor in
the UK turf and amenity sector for Bionema’s NemaTrident nematode solutions for
the control of chafer grubs and leatherjackets larvae.
NemaTrident is a tri-component solution incorporating a range of
highly virulent insect-parasitic nematodes within the Heterorhabditis and
Steinernema genera. The nematodes attack and destroy the larvae of the insect
pests thus preventing future pests from developing.
The product is safe, non-toxic to users and consumers, decomposes
rapidly and can be targeted at specific pests to avoid harming beneficial
insects – providing 70-100% success rates in combating the pests.
Environmental consultancy ADAS recently calculated that the
economic cost of chafer grubs alone is up to £85 million a year for UK golf
courses from lost income and damage repair. It also highlighted that, on the
40% of racecourses affected by the pest’s damage, lost income could amount to
up to £605,000 per course.
Dr Minshad Ansari, Bionema CEO, said: “In a market with
significant potential, there is a clear opportunity for Rigby Taylor to
continue helping greenkeepers, sports club groundsmen, racecourse managers and
landscapers in the control of chafer grubs and leatherjackets larvae, when
chemicals such as Chlorpyrifos (also known by the trademark Dursban, Equity)
and Imidacloprid (Merit Turf) are banned across Europe.”
Rigby Taylor’s Peter Corbett added: “Our role at Rigby Taylor is
to combine all the potential solutions for our customers throughout the UK. Our
staff have all been briefed on the most effective way to use the NemaTrident
range of nematodes as part of an integrated pest management programme.”
