Turfgrass Insect Pests Kansas State University Ward Upham.
Transcript of Turfgrass Insect Pests Kansas State University Ward Upham.
Turfgrass Insect PestsKansas State University
Ward Upham
Common Insect Problems
▪White Grubs
▪Billbugs
▪Sod Webworm
▪Cutworms
▪Chinch Bugs
▪Winter Grain Mite
Insect ProblemsMost Common Problem is “Grubs”
▪May Beetle (June Bug)
▪Southern Masked Chafer
▪Black Turfgrass Ataenius
▪Billbugs
Grub Insects, Adults
May Beetle Southern Masked Chafer
Black TurfgrassAtaenius Billbug
Grub Insects, Larvae
Black Turfgrass Ataenius
White GrubsMottled appearance to turf
White GrubsBird Damage
White GrubsPulls Up Like Carpet
White GrubsGrubs “C” Shaped
White GrubsIdentification
May BeetleSouthern Masked Chafer
Southern Masked Chafer
▪Annual grub
▪Most common grub that causes damage
▪Adults don’t feed that we know of
Southern Masked ChaferAnnual Grub
May Beetle
▪3-year Life Cycle
▪2nd Year Most Damaging
May Beetle
First Year
May BeetleSecond Year
May Beetle
Third Year
White Grub ControlNumber needed to cause visible damage
▪Southern Masked Chafer: 8-9 per square foot
▪May Beetle: 3-4 per square foot
White Grub ControlMerit Insecticide
▪Labeled for white grubs and billbugs
▪Considered a 3 month product
▪If after annual grubs, apply early to mid- July
▪If also seeking to control May Beetle grubs or billbugs, apply no earlier than mid-May
▪Causes a disruption of a grub's nervous system resulting in its death
▪Not for rescue treatments
White Grub ControlMach 2 Insecticide
▪Labeled for cutworms, sod webworms, billbugs and white grubs
▪Considered a 6 week product
▪Apply early to mid- July for white grub control
▪Accelerates a grub's development by causing it to molt prematurely
▪Feeding stops within a couple of hours of ingestion
White Grub ControlRescue Treatments
▪Apply when see damage
▪Use conventional insecticide such as Dylox or Sevin
Summary: Ohio Grub Control Tests
Results from 1976 through 1999Insecticide Percent Kill
Diazinon 70.4
Sevin 74.3
Dylox, Proxol 77.4
Mach 2 95.4
Merit 93.7
How to Tell if Grub Affected by Insecticide
Grub on Way OutHealthy Grub
Black Turfgrass Ataenius
▪Adult small, black beetle
▪Larva like miniature white grub
Black Turfgrass Ataenius
▪Only found on golf course greens or areas near greens
▪Overwinters as adults
▪Grubs present June and late August
▪Grubs feed on roots like other grubs
▪Damage usually seen at populations greater than 100 per square foot
Black Turfgrass Ataenius Control
▪Best to spray adults
▪Look for adults when▸Vanhoute spirea blooms (First generation)▸Rose-of-Sharon blooms (Second generation)
▪Adults swarm over turf in evenings
▪For adults, Scimitar will work well
Billbugs
▪Adult has snout
▪Larva is legless
Billbugs
▪Overwinters as adults
▪Larvae cause damage
▪See damage mid-July to mid-August
Billbugs
▪Damage▸Mottled appearance to turf
Billbugs
▪Damage▸Mottled appearance to turf▸Hollowed out stems and frass
Billbugs
▪Damage▪Control▸Use Merit or Mach 2 during month of June as a
preventative▸Control adults during April if see them. Can use
Scimitar for adults.▸Can use Mach 2 when see damage from grubs
(difficult to control because inside plant when young)
Sod Webworm
▪Adult is moth with snout
▪Larva have spots on side
Sod Webworm Damage
▪Damage about size of softball
▪Spots coalesce if damage is severe
Sod Webworm Sign
▪Look for silken tunnels
▪Look for green “pellets”
Sod Webworm Control
▪Time spray by adult activity: Start checking for damage 8 - 10 days after peak moth flight
▪Can use Sevin, Bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns) or Lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide)
Chinch Bugs
▪Adults have black and white patterned wings▪Found on Zoysia; a second species found on
buffalograss▪Larvae are reddish with white waistband
Chinch Bugs
▪Adults and nymphs cause damage
▪Found in sunny areas
▪Feed on grass near or slightly below turf/soil interface
Chinch Bugs
▪Can check for insects by using metal cylinder (such as coffee can with ends cut out)
▪Drive can into soil and fill with water
Chinch Bug Control
▪Carbaryl (Sevin)▪Bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for
Lawns)
▪Chlorpyrifos (Dursban) can be used on golf courses, road medians, industrial sites but not home lawns
Cutworms
▪Can have more than one type, such as variegated, bronze and black cutworms
Variegated Cutworm
Cutworm Damage
▪Larvae cut off plants near ground level
▪See damage early or late in season
Cutworms
▪Can use wide variety of products including acephate (Acephate, Orthene, Ortho Systemic Insect Control), bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns) , lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide) or carbaryl (Sevin) for control
Winter Grain Mite
▪Reddish legs and black body; 8 legged mite.
Winter Grain MiteSpecies Damaged
▪Kentucky bluegrass
▪Bentgrass
▪Perennial ryegrass
▪Tall fescue
Winter Grain MiteDamage
▪Turf has silvered, scorched appearance caused by mites rasping open leaves as they feed
▪Turf treated with carbaryl (Sevin) tends to be worse
▪Mites feed during winter to early spring months
▪In evening, mites come up on grass blades near edge of damage.
▪Mites survive the summer as eggs
Winter Grain MiteControl
▪Often, turf will grow out of damage
▪However, if chemical control is needed; bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns) or lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide)
Fall Armyworm▪Damage
Fall Armyworm
▪Different age larvae may look different
Fall Armyworm
▪Different age larvae may look different
▪Identification: “Y” on head.
Fall Armyworm: Control
▪Acephate (Acephate, Orthene, Ortho Systemic Insect Control),
▪Bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns)
▪Lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide)
The End