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Significance

Sting nematodes cause yield losses in many crops and can lead to complete crop destruction. On many crops, the economic threshold for use of control measures is at, or near, the detection level. Fortunately, B. longicaudatus, the most damaging species of sting nematode, is restricted to sandy areas and is primarily a problem in Florida and coastal plain areas of other southeastern states. However, due to movement on infested planting material and the high sand content in most putting greens, B. longicaudatus is becoming more common on golf courses outside of its native geographic range. Beyond the damage they cause to turfgrass, sting nematodes also can have a negative impact on water quality and quantity by requiring increased irrigation frequency and increasing the likelihood of nitrates leaching into ground water.

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