Turf Pests of Turf Pests of FloridaFlorida

Turf Pests of Turf Pests of FloridaFlorida

Life Cycle of Chinch BugLife Cycle of Chinch Bug

• Incomplete (gradual) metamorphosisIncomplete (gradual) metamorphosis

Egg 6 Nymphal Stages AdultEgg 6 Nymphal Stages Adult

• Eggs laid on the soil or on plant near soilEggs laid on the soil or on plant near soil• Eggs are kidney-shaped measuring about 0.033 Eggs are kidney-shaped measuring about 0.033

inches long by 0.012 inches wideinches long by 0.012 inches wide• A female southern chinch bug will lay about A female southern chinch bug will lay about

200 Eggs in her lifetime200 Eggs in her lifetime

Eggs:Eggs:

Male & FemaleMale & Female

Second Generation (374,213 offspring)Second Generation (374,213 offspring)

First Generation (1,091 offspring)First Generation (1,091 offspring)

Third Generation (111,141,251 offspring)Third Generation (111,141,251 offspring)

(remember… 7 generations/year in South Florida)(remember… 7 generations/year in South Florida)

DamageDamage• Beak pierces the plant and sucks sap Beak pierces the plant and sucks sap • feeding results in a reddish stainfeeding results in a reddish stain• Feeding causes death to the cellsFeeding causes death to the cells• Feeding by a large number of bugs can dwarf the Feeding by a large number of bugs can dwarf the plant causing deathplant causing death• Damage usually greatest during hot, dry weatherDamage usually greatest during hot, dry weather in sunny rather than shady locationsin sunny rather than shady locations• Aggregations of up to 2,300 bugs/square foot haveAggregations of up to 2,300 bugs/square foot have been reportedbeen reported

Host RangeHost Range

Are the most injurious pests of St. Augustinegrass Are the most injurious pests of St. Augustinegrass in Florida. in Florida. Are not a serious pest on any of the other lawn grassesAre not a serious pest on any of the other lawn grasses but have been observed feeding on torpedo grass, but have been observed feeding on torpedo grass, various pasture grasses, centipedegrass, Bermudagrass various pasture grasses, centipedegrass, Bermudagrass

(rare), and rice(rare), and rice

Suck the plant juices from grass (generally on nodes of runners) resulting in yellowish to brownish patches

Damage often first noticed in water stressed areas along edges of lawns

Chinch Bug Damage

UF - IFAS

Chinch Bug Early-Instar NymphsChinch Bug Early-Instar Nymphs

UF - Entomology

Nymphs are about the size of a pinhead after they emerge from eggs. They molt five times before reaching the adult stage. Small nymphs are bright red with a white band.

UF - Entomology

Adult

Late-instarnymph

Late stage nymphs and adult chinch bugs are about 1/5 inch long and black; the adults have white wings.

Managing Chinch BugsManaging Chinch Bugs

1. Follow cultural suggestions1. Follow cultural suggestions

• Especially avoid excessive amounts of Especially avoid excessive amounts of soluble Nitrogensoluble Nitrogen

Managing Chinch BugsManaging Chinch Bugs

2. Predators

• Striped Earwigs

Good eggpredators

Big-Eyed BugPredatory Insect

Managing Chinch BugsManaging Chinch Bugs

3. Installing resistant/tolerant varieties ???

Managing Chinch BugsManaging Chinch Bugs

4. Insecticide treatments4. Insecticide treatments

• Threshold: 20 - 25 bugs per square foot

• Many products are labeled

• Can treat damaged areas plus a 5 foot buffer

Tropical Sod Web Worms

• Summer and fall• Notched feeding on

blades• Associated with moths• Dipel or Sevin

Mole Crickets

• Tawny mole cricket• Bahia, bermuda, St.

Augustine• Nematac

Mole cricket damageMole cricket damage

Grubs

• Grass thins, yellows, wilts, dies.

• No roots• Many different beetle

culprits• Grub Ex

Inspecting for GrubsInspecting for Grubs

Treat with labeled pesticideTreat with labeled pesticide

Two lined spittlebug

SpittlebugSpittlebug

Spittlebug frothSpittlebug froth

Spittlebug

• Spittlebug feeding causes a purple and/or white stripe to run along the grass blades of infested turfgrass, especially centipedegrass.

• In heavy infestations, the turf wilts and the tips turn yellow, eventually brown, and then curl.

• In St. Augustinegrass, spittlebug injury resembles that of chinch bugs. However, unlike chinch bug injury, which tends to occur in sunny areas, spittlebug injury usually appears in shady areas.

Treat with labeled pesticideTreat with labeled pesticide

Spittlebug damageSpittlebug damage

There are many causes for turfThere are many causes for turfdecline… such as:decline… such as:

• Wrong turf variety for location Wrong turf variety for location (i.e., sun vs. shade)(i.e., sun vs. shade)• Poor Management practicesPoor Management practices• NematodesNematodes• DiseasesDiseases• PestsPests

In general, healthy turf is In general, healthy turf is better able to withstand pest better able to withstand pest pressure than stressed turfpressure than stressed turf

Follow guidelines for growing healthy Follow guidelines for growing healthy turf printed in the Florida Lawn turf printed in the Florida Lawn

HandbookHandbook

Cultural Practices For Management Cultural Practices For Management of Turf Pestsof Turf Pests

1. Avoid frequent or high-rate applications of water-1. Avoid frequent or high-rate applications of water- soluble inorganic nitrogen fertilizerssoluble inorganic nitrogen fertilizers

• Turf looks great but results in rapid succulent Turf looks great but results in rapid succulent growth that chinch bugs and caterpillars prefer growth that chinch bugs and caterpillars prefer

Use a Slow-Release, Complete Fertilizer 2 per Use a Slow-Release, Complete Fertilizer 2 per year, depending on turf type year, depending on turf type

Cultural Practices For Management Cultural Practices For Management of Turf Pestsof Turf Pests

2. Practice proper mowing procedures

Improper mowing can lead to development of a thatch layer which harbors chinch bugs and caterpillars…and can “tie up” insecticides

Mow often enough so that no more than one-thirdof the leaf blade is removed.

Keep cutting blades sharp to prevent leaf damage

Cultural Practices For Management Cultural Practices For Management of Turf Pestsof Turf Pests

3. Do not over-water

Over-watering, especially in combination with improper fertilization, leads to lush growth and thatch

Irrigate only when grass begins to showwater stress. Apply no more than 1 inchper application.

Monitoring for Turf PestsMonitoring for Turf Pests

Weekly pest monitoring is recommended

Monitoring Caterpillars & Mole Crickets

1. Mix 1.5 fl. oz. dishwashing soap in 2 gal. water1. Mix 1.5 fl. oz. dishwashing soap in 2 gal. water

2. Drench 4 ft2. Drench 4 ft22 area with the solution area with the solution

3. Count insects that emerge3. Count insects that emerge

4. Examine 3 - 4 random places in healthy turf4. Examine 3 - 4 random places in healthy turf

5. Concentrate along the 5. Concentrate along the edges of brown edges of brown patchespatches

6. Also works for chinch6. Also works for chinch bugsbugs

Monitoring Chinch Bugs

1) Insert open ended metal can 2 inches into soil1) Insert open ended metal can 2 inches into soil in suspected areasin suspected areas

2) Fill can with water, chinch bugs will float2) Fill can with water, chinch bugs will float

3) Wait 5 minutes 3) Wait 5 minutes then countthen count

4) Repeat in 3 - 4 4) Repeat in 3 - 4 locationslocations

Author: Tom Weissling, University of Florida

Photos: University of Florida

Entomology And Nematology Department Copyright University of Florida 2000

For more detailed information see the Featured Creatures WWW site at

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/