Turf-Insect Management 2007 Turfgrass Inservice
Tom A. Royer
Oklahoma State University
Tom A Royer AR/OK Turfgrass Shortcourse
Managing Insect Pests(How to Achieve Success)
Knowledge of production
system
Proper identification.
Knowledge of biology and
seasonal occurrence
Proper monitoring and
selection of controls
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Sampling Insect Pests(How to Achieve Success)
Disclosing solutions Sod webworms, cutworms, short-tailed
crickets
Flotation Chinch bug
Cut square of sod White grubs, billbugs
Pitfall trap Ants, adult billbugs
Tom A Royer AR/OK Turfgrass Shortcourse
Thatch/Root-infesting PestsWhite Grubs Larval stage of scarab
beetles Most destructive pest of
turf, especially in the cool season and transition zones.
Tom A Royer AR/OK Turfgrass Shortcourse
Thatch/Root-infesting PestsWhite Grubs Larval stage of scarab
beetles Most destructive pest of
turf, especially in the cool season and transition zones.
Cause direct damage, and collateral damage from predator activity.
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Thatch/Root-infesting PestsWhite Grubs White grubs in Oklahoma
Cyclocephala (Masked Chafers)
Phyllophaga (May and June beetles)
Cotinis (Green June beetle)
Popillia japonica (Japanese Beetle)
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Grubs with1-year life cycle
Adults fly from June-July
Eggs hatch in early August, grubs reach full size by late August, feed through October
Southern Masked Chafer
Japanese Beetle
Thatch/Root-infesting PestsWhite Grubs (1-Year Life Cycle)
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Thatch/Root-infesting PestsWhite Grubs (Multi-year Life Cycle)
Various species in the Genus Phyllophaga
1,2, 3-year lifecycles Most of life spent as
third instar grub Control is directed at
young grubs
May-June Beetle
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Thatch/Root-infesting PestsWhite Grubs
Large beetle (1 inch) that flies during the day (June-July)
One year life cycle Grubs make large
holes in turf, don’t directly feed on roots, but “dig” tunnels
Larva crawl “on their back”
Green June Beetle
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Thatch/Root-infesting PestsOther White Grubs
Black Turfgrass Ataenius Oriental Beetle (NE) Asiatic Garden Beetle
(NE) European Chafer (NE)
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Thatch/Root-infesting PestsIdentification of Grubs by Raster Setal Patterns
Masked Chafer
Phyllophaga June Beetle
Japanese Beetle
Green June Beetle
European Chafer
Oriental Beetle
Black Turfgrass Ataenius
AsiaticGarden Beetle
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Thatch/Root-infesting PestsManagement of White Grubs
Inspect for injury, and count numbers per square foot
Check species, turf can tolerate more annual white grub numbers
Make sure chemical treatments are applied for maximum effectiveness (proper timing, moist soil conditions, irrigate after chemical treatment)
Annual White Grub
Phyllophaga
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Thatch/Root-infesting PestsManagement of White Grubs
Why is looking at grub’s “butt hairs” important?
Annual White Grub
Phyllophaga
A Survey of Phyllophaga Species Associated with Oklahoma Golf Courses.
Jake Doskocil1, Tom Royer1, Nathan Walker1, Greg Bell1, James Reinert2
1 Oklahoma State University 2 Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
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Results
Figure 3 Flight period of Phyllophaga and Cyclocephala beetles collected from 7 golf courses in Oklahoma, 2004-05. (The checkered areas denote the peak flights)
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Speciesaffabilisbipartitacalceatacongruacorrosacrassissimacrenulatecrinitaephilidafutilisglabriculahirtiventrisimplicitapraetermissaprofundapruninarubiginosasubmucidasylvaticatorta
August SeptemberApril May June July
Results
Figure 4 Flight period of Phyllophaga and Cyclocephala beetles collected from 7 golf courses in Oklahoma, 2006. (The checkered areas denote the peak flights)
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Peak Flight Periods for Phyllophaga found inhabiting Turf, 2004-06
Species Month P. congrua April-May P. crassisima May P. ephilida June P. submucida June-July P. crinita July P. torta September
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Insecticide Recommendations for Control of White Grubs (commercial)
Arena clothianadin neonicotinoid Dursban chlorpyrifos OP Dylox, Proxol trichlorphon OP Mach II halofenozide IGR Merit imidacloprid neonicotinoid Sevin carbaryl carbamate
Product Active Ingredient Class
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Insecticide Recommendations for Control of White Grubs (Homeowner)
Dylox Proxol trichlorphon (OP) Merit imidacloprid (neonicitinoid)
Bayer Advanced Mach2 halofenozide (IGR)
Scotts GrubEx Sevin WP carbaryl (carbamate)
Product AI and (classification)
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Hunting billbug most common species in Oklahoma.
This may be an emerging problem over state.
Billbugs are a complex of species, still being determined.
Hunting/Bluegrass Billbug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Chewing)
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Adults measure ¼ to 7/16 inches.
They have the weevil “snout” are charcoal grey to black, with numerous punctations on the pronotum, and a distinct “Y” shaped smooth raised area just behind the head that is enclosed by a shiny, parenthesis-like mark on either side.
Hunting/Bluegrass Billbug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Chewing)
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One generation per year, but all life stages are often present. OW as partially mature larvae.
Adults emerge from April-June, but can be found year around. Will be seen walking across sidewalks in spring.
Will sometimes play “dead” when disturbed.
Egg laying extends through early summer.
Hunting/Bluegrass Billbug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Chewing)
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Larva are damaging stage
Larvae plump, legless, somewhat “C” shaped, measuring 3/8 inches when full grown with a tan head capsule.
Can be found in the crown or root zone, just below the thatch.
Hunting/Bluegrass Billbug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Chewing)
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Eggs deposited in leaf sheaths, or feeding punctures in stems.
Eggs hatch in 3-10 days. Larvae tunnel within the
stem, boring into crown Feeding produces dead
areas in bermuda grass in spring, may affect sod “holding power”.
Damage sometimes mistaken for “winter kill”.
Hunting/Bluegrass Billbug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Chewing)
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Management of Billbugs
Early detection is difficult because young larvae are hidden within stems.
Adult activity in spring and again in late fall signals the existence of an active infestation.
Check dead spots for signs of frass in the stems, if stems are full of “sawdust” check crowns for larvae.
Pitfall traps can be used to monitor adults. Properly managed bermudagrass can recover Apply insecticide if necessary, preferably targeted at
the adult, or use imidacloprid soon after adults become active in spring.
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Insecticide Recommendations for Control of Billbugs (commercial)
Arena clothianadin neonicotinoid Allectus imid + bifenthrin neo+pyrethroid Dursban chlorpyrifos OP Dylox, Proxol trichlorphon OP Merit imidacloprid neonicotinoid Scimitar l cyhalothrin pyrethroid Talstar bifenthrin pyrethroid
Product Active Ingredient Class
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Green, brown or almost black, with a yellow inverted “Y” on the head capsule
Up to 1.5 inches, grow through 6 instars in as little as 21 days after hatching
Multiple generations. Adults will lay eggs in short turf.
Usually a pest in fall because the are not capable of OW in Oklahoma.
Fall Armyworm
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Chewing)
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Management of Fall Armyworm Control is more effective on small larvae Look for “windowpaning” Use of a flushing agent on lawn can provide
an indication of infestation Infestations more likely in the fall Threshold is same as for cutworms (5 per
square yard)
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Insecticide Recommendations for Control of Armyworms (commercial)
Arena clothianadin neonicotinoid Allectus imid + bifenthrin neo+pyrethroid Dursban chlorpyrifos OP Merit imidacloprid neonicotinoid Orthene acephate OP Scimitar l cyhalothrin pyrethroid Sevin carbaryl carbamate Talstar bifenthrin pyrethroid Tempo cyfluthrin pyrethroid
Product Active Ingredient Class
Tom A Royer AR/OK Turfgrass Shortcourse
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking) Chinch bugs are true
bugs (Hemiptera) that are pests of turfgrass.
Four species are important to turf production, two are serious pests (Hairy and Southern), and two others are occasional pests (Common and Buffalograss)
Chinch Bug
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Hairy chinch bug: A serious pest of northern
turfgrasses. Adults are about 1/6 inches.
Body is grayish-black and covered with fine hairs, the legs have a dark, burnt-orange tint.
Wings are shiny white, and make a bright white “X” pattern.
Nymphs are orange with a white stripe crossing the middle of their back, become more brown to blaci in color as they mature.
Chinch Bug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Southern chinch bug: A serious pest of St.
Augustinegrass lawns, feeds occasionally on bermudagrass, hahiagrass, centipedgrass and zoysia.
Adults and nymphs are nearly identical to hairy chinch bugs.
Two types occur, a long winged form and a short winged form.
Very common in SE Oklahoma where St. Augustine is grown
Chinch Bug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Common and Buffalograss chinch bugs: Occasional pests.
Common mostly a pest of small grains and other field crops. Will occasionally attack Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fescue, bentgrass and zoysia.
Buffalograss chinch bug will only feed on buffalograss.
Chinch Bug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Life History Two generations per
year. Overwinters as an adult
in protected leaf litter, or “bunch grasses”.
Prefer hot, dry conditions.
Are very susceptible to fungus disease Beauveria bassiana.
Chinch Bug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Damage Adults and nymphs cause
damage by feeding with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. Damage results from fluid removal from the plant tissue, and from clogging of the conducting tissues.
Grass may turn yellow, then reddish-brown. Injury resembles drought damage, and often occurs in patches.
Chinch Bug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Control Sample by “floatation” Endophyte-resistant
varieties of ryegrass are available for hairy.
Resistant varieties of St. Augustinegrass are also available for southern.
Thatch management is good cultural control
There are some natural enemies that exert good control of chinch bugs.
Chinch Bug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Control Pesticide resistance is of
concern with this pest. They are sometimes
difficult to control Insecticides need to
penetrate the thatch layer to be really effective.
Some time for control of overwintered adults (preventative)
Corrective control after eggs have hatched.
Chinch Bug
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Insecticide Recommendations for Control of Chinch bugs (commercial)
Arena clothianadin neonicotinoid Allectus imid + bifenthrin neo+pyrethroid Dursban chlorpyrifos OP Orthene acephate OP Scimitar l cyhalothrin pyrethroid Sevin carbaryl carbamate Talstar bifenthrin pyrethroid Tempo cyfluthrin pyrethroid
Product Active Ingredient Class
Tom A Royer AR/OK Turfgrass Shortcourse
These mites are very small, nearly microscopic. They are known as eriophyid mites, also known as “gall forming” mites.
They are quite different from spidermites in appearance. They are small, sausage-shaped, white mites that are less than 1/100 of an inch long.
Bermudagrass/Zoyziagrass Mites
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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These mites are often quite host specific. Bermudagrass mite uses bermudagrass, and zoysiagrass mite attacks zoysia. There is also a buffalograss mite that attacks…….
Bermudagrass/Zoyziagrass Mites
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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These mites feed under the leaf sheaths of the plant.
Bermudagrass mite damage: Stunting and shortening of
nodes Yellowing, twisting of foliage Finally, they turn brown and
die back to their origin on the stem of the plant.
Bermudagrass/Zoyziagrass Mites
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Zoisiagrass mite damage: New leaf tips fail to emerge,
creating a “buggy whip”. Yellowing, twisting of
foliage. Plant stands become
thinned, seed production is seriously affected.
Bermudagrass/Zoyziagrass Mites
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Management options are somewhat limited. Resistant varieties of
bermudagrass or zoysiagrass are available.
Control with a miticide may provide temporary, and limited control.
Good cultural practices are of help with bermudagrass, but less so with zoysiagrass.
Bermudagrass/Zoyziagrass Mites
Leaf/Stem-infesting Pests (Sucking)
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Cultural Controls (Bermudagrass) Close mowing height Fertilizing and irrigating
to promote rapid regrowth
(Zoysiagrass) Cultural practices seem
less useful. Currently, we know little of their biology, they appear, then disappear during the growing season.
Eriophyid Mites
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Resistant Varieties.
Bermudagrass varieties FLoraTex Midlawn TifSport
Zoysiagrass varieties Royal Emerald El Toro Crowne
Eriophyid Mites
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Nuisance Pest
Minor pest, due to its mound-building habits.
Adults are from 9/16 to 2/3 inches, brown with short wings.
Mounds may go down as much as 20 inches.
Adults remain in burrows by day, leaving at night.
Feed on grasses, but damage is negligible.
Shorttailed Cricket
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Nuisance Pest
Overwinters as a large nymph.
Adults may appear in late March to begin mating.
Female lays a clutch of eggs in burrow, which hatch and mature into nymphs that disperse from the nest.
Shorttailed Cricket
Turf-Insect Management 2007 Turfgrass Inservice
Tom A. Royer
Oklahoma State University