S. carpocapsae is considered a generalist parasite and has been effectively used to control a variety of insects including: Webworms, cutworms, armyworms, girdlers, some weevils, and wood-borers.

This species is an example of an "ambush" forager, standing on its tail in an upright position near the soil surface and attaching to passing hosts, even capable of jumping.

S. carpocapsae can sense carbon dioxide production, making the spiracles a key portal of entry into its insect hosts.

[6] Though the X. nematophila bacteria is carried by the IJ in a specialized structure in the anterior gut called the receptacle, it is released into the host through defecation.

[10] The IJs can be stored in tap water or buffer for several months, and can even be frozen for long term storage in liquid nitrogen.

S. carpocapsae and other ambush foragers, when stored in water soon revert to a characteristic J-shaped resting position, meaning that they have a straight body posture with a minor kink at the end of the tail.

In short, lack of movement is not always a sign of mortality; nematodes may have to be stimulated (e.g., probes, acetic acid, gentle heat) to move before assessing viability.

The fact that a single worm is enough to kill an insect host with so few bacterial cells means that S. carpocapsae is not just relying on the bacteria to do all the work.

They are ubiquitous, having been isolated from every inhabited continent from a wide range of ecologically diverse soil habitats including cultivated fields, forests, grasslands, deserts, and even ocean beaches.