Which pest, and at what point in its life cycle, decides almost everything here. Treat at the wrong stage and even the right product under-performs, whatever the pack says.

Which pest are you dealing with?

Chafer grubs feed on grass roots and attract birds, foxes and badgers to dig up the turf looking for them; Nemasys Chafer Grub Killer introduces a native nematode, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, that infects and kills the larvae from within.

Leatherjackets, crane fly larvae, cause similar root damage; Nemasys Leatherjacket Killer uses Steinernema feltiae and has a clear best window, early August to the end of October, while the larvae are still small, with a second, less effective window in March and April.

Vine weevil larvae attack roots in containers, borders and pots; Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer is suitable even on edible crops and protects the treated area for up to 6 weeks.

Ants in a lawn or cricket square are more of a nuisance than a threat to the turf itself, and Nemasys No Ants takes a different approach: it does not kill the colony, it encourages it to relocate its nest away from the treated area.

For chafer grub and leatherjacket pressure across larger managed turf areas, Acelepryn is a professional-use residual insecticide, applied ahead of egg hatch as part of an ongoing programme rather than a single fix.

Biological nematodes, or a chemical residual insecticide?

The four Nemasys products are biological controls: living nematodes that seek out the target larvae in the soil, with no chemical residue to manage afterwards. They come with conditions that matter more than with a bottled chemical. Keep them refrigerated, use them within 3 to 4 weeks of delivery, and check the soil temperature before applying, at least 12°C for leatherjackets, at least 10°C with ants present for No Ants.

Acelepryn is a chemical option built around chlorantraniliprole, which paralyses target insects on contact or ingestion. It is a professional-use product (MAPP 20149), and the label limits treatment to no more than 10% of the total site area in any one situation, which reflects its role in an integrated turf management plan rather than a blanket treatment.

Which product for which job

Turf being dug up by birds or badgers hunting grubs: Nemasys Chafer Grub Killer. Patchy dieback with crane flies visible in autumn: Nemasys Leatherjacket Killer, applied in the August to October window if at all possible. Container and border plants wilting for no obvious reason: Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer. Ant nests spoiling a lawn or cricket square: Nemasys No Ants. Ongoing chafer or leatherjacket pressure across a larger managed site: Acelepryn, applied by a trained operator ahead of egg hatch.

Timing decides more of the outcome here than product choice alone. If you are not sure which window applies to your pest and your part of the country, the technical sales team can help you time the application before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature does the soil need to be?

Soil temperature governs several of the nematode products specifically: Nemasys Leatherjacket Killer needs a soil temperature of at least 12°C, and Nemasys No Ants asks for at least 10°C with ants actively present before you order. Check ground temperature before treatment rather than relying on the calendar date alone, since a cold spring or a mild autumn shifts the practical window.

How quickly do nematodes need to be used, and how are they stored?

Keep Nemasys products refrigerated until you are ready to apply them, and use them within 3 to 4 weeks of receiving them. Nematodes are living organisms, not a shelf-stable chemical, so storage and timing affect how well they work.

Is Acelepryn something I can apply myself?

Acelepryn is a professional-use pesticide (MAPP 20149) intended for trained, certificated operators, and the label limits the total area treated to no more than 10% of the site at any one time. Read the safety notes and label fully before use, and treat it as part of an ongoing turf management programme timed ahead of egg hatch, not a single fix.