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Management of Turfgrass Insects

Juang-Horng ‘JC’ Chong Clemson University

Pee Dee Research & Education Center Florence, SC

Tel.: 843-662-3526 x 224 E-mail: juanghc@clemson.edu

What is the key to effective insect management in turfgrass?

What are the keys to effective insect management in turfgrass?

What are the keys to effective insect management in turfgrass?

•  Are you sure that’s caused by bugs? •  Know thy enemy

What do they look like? How do I find them? What is their life cycles?

•  Know thyself What insecticides do I have in the shed? What are the other non-chemical options?

Are you sure that’s caused by bugs? What is causing the problem? Disease?

Mowing height? Insects?

Coons? Dogs? Mole?

Irrigation?

Fertilization? Salt?

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Are you sure that’s caused by bugs? Most pests will cause somewhat distinctive damage

Small tunnels with soil pushed up and out, perhaps mole crickets…

Know Your Enemy!

How do I look for them?

•  Use some monitoring method to find the culprit.

How do I look for them? •  Everyone should have a simple sampling tool kit and

other necessary supplies for digging and monitoring

Handlens Magnifying glasses Pocket knife

Containers Field notebook

What do they look like?

•  Identify the culprit properly!

Photo: http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/south/series8/week_one/mole_cricket203.jpg

Where is the problem?

Here Here Here

Could be clumped or scattered, depending on the pest. Your experience will also help.

Where is the problem?

•  Keep a good record! •  Use a heavy-duty, tightly bound note book. •  Write down:

when the problem first appeared where it is and if it reappears at the same area what is causing the problem what did you do was the control measure effectively when was the control most effective

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What is the life cycle?

•  Knowing the life cycle is important so you can find the most effective time to treat!

Photo: UGA

Adults in spring.

Young nymphs in late June – early July.

Easier to kill the young ones.

So, treat in June-July.

How do you keep it from becoming a problem?

•  Cultural practices and biological control often help to reduce the infestation before it becomes a big problem.

•  Healthy grass/plant and healthy ecosystem less pest problem.

What arsenals do you have and how to use them?

•  Use the most appropriate products and use them in the most appropriate manner is the most effective way of saving time (by treating just once).

Photos: Lifeand Lawn

What make successful insect management? ‘Learn, little grasshopper!’

•  Treat at the most vulnerable life stage. •  Monitor insect activity. •  Identify insects – properly. •  Know the level of damage you (and the person

looking over your shoulder) will tolerate. •  Know the location of infestation. •  Select the most appropriate management options –

chemical, biological, cultural, combinations. •  Record keeping.

Topics of the day…

•  Turfgrass Pests Fire ant Chinch bug Mole cricket Caterpillars White grub Billbug Have you seen these problems?

Spittlebug Rhodesgrass mealybug Ground pearl Bermudagrass mite

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Fire ant treatment methods: Cultural and Physical Control

•  Boiling water. Pour 3 gallons of boiling water on a mound can kill about

60% of ants in a colony, especially if the colony is close to the surface.

•  Kick or disturb the mounds frequently. The colony may move.

•  Beware of home remedies. These rarely work.

•  Beware of mechanical and electrical devices for fire ant control.

These have never been tested, and most do not work.

Fire ant treatment methods: Biological Control

•  Many ant species are actually good competitors of RIFA.

•  Other wildlife also feast on the large number of reproductives.

•  Diseases Many pathogens are currently under evaluation.

Beauveria bassiana: fungi Steinernema species: nematode

Thelohania solenopsae: microsporidian More tests are needed before any recommendations can

be made.

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Red Imported Fire Ants

•  Biological control: Decapitating or Phorid fly Tiny parasite that develop in the head of fire ants. Early

field releases have shown some promises. Still under limited field evaluation.

Fire ant treatment methods: Chemical Control

•  2 general groups of insecticides:

1) Baits Often are insect growth regulators and toxicants. Only works when ants ingest the products. Formulated with soybean oil and corn grit to lure RIFA. Used as spot treatment, bait station or broad-cast.

2) Contact insecticides Works when ants contact the active ingredients directly. Used as sprays or broad-cast.

Fire ant treatment methods: Chemical Control

•  Some commonly used baits: avermectin Ascend, Clinch, Varsity

fipronil CeaseFire hydramethylnon Amdro, AmdroPro, SiegePro, Combat,

MaxForce, Probait, Raid

indoxycarb Advion, Spectracide, Real-Kill insect growth regulators (fenoxycarb, methoprene, pyriproxyfen) Award, Logic, Extinguish, Distance spinosad Greenlight, Safer, Conserve hydramethylnon+methoprene Extinguish

Fire ant treatment methods: Chemical Control

•  Some commonly used contact insecticides: acephate Orthene botanicals carbaryl Sevin fipronil TopChoice inorganic compounds Boric acid, diatomaceous earth pyrethoids Talstar, etc. spinosad Conserve

Fire ant treatment programs

•  Often, the RIFA treatment program in the lawn and turf areas falls within 3 general categories:

1) Individual mound treatment

2) Broad-cast contact insecticides

3) The ‘two-step’ program a. Broad-cast baits b. Individual mound treatment

RIFA treatment programs for lawn: ‘Two-step’ program

•  For: Large or medium-sized areas at moderate cost. •  Approach: 1. Broad-cast a bait in the spring and/or fall;

2. Treat nuisance mounds individually with fast- acting contact insecticides.

•  Shortcoming: May harm non-target ants; take a long time to notice effect.

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Southern Chinch Bug Biology

•  The most damaging pest of St. Augustinegrass.

•  Young nymphs are bright reddish-orange with a distinctive white band across the abdomen.

•  Adults are grayish-black; both long-wing and short-wing forms.

•  Active from April to October, sometimes earlier.

•  3 or 4 overlapping generations per year.

Southern Chinch Bug Damage

•  Feed under leaf sheath and nodes.

•  Prefer grasses grown in open, sunny areas with abundant thatch.

•  Damage often occur at patches of wilted, yellow-brown grass; patch can expand.

•  Damage first shows up in stress turf, worse when hot and dry in late summer.

Southern Chinch Bug Monitoring

•  Monitoring for southern chinch bug with floating technique:

Insert a metal can or large PVC pipe into the sod;

Pour in water (not soapy water!);

Wait for the bugs to float to the top, about 5 min;

Add water if level is low; Count the bugs.

Southern Chinch Bug Management

•  Management Cultural: Avoid excessive fertilization; de-thatch; resistant cultivars ‘Floratam’ & ‘Floralawn’ Biological: many native natural enemies, especially big-

eyed bug

Southern Chinch Bug - Chemical

•  Management Chemical: Organophasphates (acephate, chlorpyrifos, trichlorfon) Carbamates (carbaryl) Neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid, dinotefuran,

thiamethoxam) Pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin,

deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin)

Southern Chinch Bug - Chemical

•  For best results: Select the most effective insecticides Timing: Treat whenever necessary, always better

to be early before the damage shows up

Water in after application If apply spray contact insecticides (bifenthrin,

acephate, carbaryl, etc)., use a high volume (at least 1.5 gallons per 1,000 sq ft).

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Southern Chinch Bug - Chemical

•  For best results: Select the most effective insecticides Timing: Treat whenever necessary, always better

to be early before the damage shows up

Water in after application If apply spray contact insecticides (bifenthrin,

acephate, carbaryl, etc)., use a high volume (at least 1.5 gallons per 1,000 sq ft).

Avoid irrigation for 24 hours

Water in soon after application

Photo: various

Water in soon after application (granules) or use high volume (foliar spray)

Photo: UNL

Mole Cricket Species

•  2 main species: tawny mole cricket southern mole cricket

•  Identification is based on the shape of tibial dactyls (i.e. the ‘fingers’ on the digging claws).

Photo: TAMU, UGA Bugwood

Southern mole cricket

Widely separated tibial dactyls (U-shaped)

4 pale spots on thorax.

Tawny mole cricket

Tibial dactyls are very close (V-shaped)

Tawny, no distinctive markings Photo: Univ. FL

Mole Cricket Biology

•  The life cycle of the two species is a little different: •  Tawny mole cricket

A herbivore that damage turf by feeding and tunneling. Adult active March & April (> 60F), egg laid in April

to May, egg hatch in May to June, overwinter as adults in fall.

•  Southern mole cricket A carnivore, damage turf by tunneling only. Life cycle is usually 2 weeks later than tawny mole

cricket.

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Mole Cricket Monitoring •  Looking for mole cricket: Use a soap flush

Dissolve 1 to 2 fl oz of dish detergent in a gallon of water; mix well and pour onto a 2 sq ft area.

Mole Cricket Management

•  Management: Cultural: Keep grass healthy. Biological: nematodes, parasitoids, predators

Photo: UF, MSU, billbaston.com

Larra bicolor Steinernema capterisci

Mole Cricket - Nematodes

•  Nematodes usually takes a long time to effectively suppress the population.

•  Steinernema scapterisci (Nematac S) for adult mole cricket; S. riobrave have quick control but do not persist.

Photo: www.bionet.com and UF

Mole Cricket - Chemical

•  For best results: Select the most appropriate products Timing is everything! Late June and early July Flush to determine the size of nymphs Treat late in the day or at night Irrigate a few hours before application to bring up

the mole crickets Irrigate soon after application; but do not irrigate

if use baits

Timing is everything!

Photo: UGA

Adults in spring.

Young nymphs in late June – early July.

Easier to kill the young ones.

So, treat in June-July using contact insecticides.

Treat between egg laying and hatch (May-June) if use fipronil.

Apply baits whenever mole crickets are present and feeding.

Timing is everything!

J F M A M Jn Jl Au S O N D

Adult

Egg

Nymph

Overwintering Spring flight

Mating and lay eggs

Hatching

Development

Monitor with soap flush. Target Treatment Here!!

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Mole Cricket - Chemical

•  Management Chemical: Organophasphates (acephate, chlorpyrifos) Carbamates (carbaryl) Fipronil (Chipco Choice, Chipco TopChoice) Indoxycarb (Advion mole cricket bait) Neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid,

dinotefuran, thiamethoxam) Pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin,

lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin)

Water in soon after application; or use very high spray volume (50 gal/acre minimum); but not for baits

Photo: various

Caterpillars

•  Several species are wreaking havoc in turf: Fall armyworm Sod webworm Cutworm

•  Each with distinctive biology but management is similar

Fall Armyworm

•  Migrate from Florida each year, reach SC around June.

•  Skeletonize leaf blades and crowns.

•  Caterpillars vary in coloration (tan to black), but often with longitudinal stripes on the sides, and a prominent light-colored inverted Y-shaped marking on head.

Photo: UNL

Fall Armyworm

•  4-5 weeks life cycle; feed for ~ 28 days •  3 or 4 generation per years •  Cannot survive freezing temperature. •  Infestations seem to be particularly severe in

2007; because of the drought? Less severe in 2008. Bad in 2010.

Photo: NCSU

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Caterpillars

•  Monitoring: Soap water flush; animal feeding activities; sex pheromone traps

Caterpillars •  Soap flush:

Dissolve 1 to 2 fl oz of dish detergent in a gallon of water; mix well and pour onto a 2 sq ft area.

•  Purposes: 1. Find the critters 2. Determine their sizes

Caterpillars

•  Management: Cultural: Endophyte-enriched grasses; lower mowing

height Biological: Many natural enemies

Photo: UNL, UKY, UVt

Caterpillars

•  For best results: Most insecticides work well Timing: treat when necessary; can stop after the

first frost. The key is delivering the chemicals to the

caterpillars. Do not irrigate for 24 hours after application.

Caterpillars

•  Management Chemical: Organophasphates (acephate, chlorpyrifos) Carbamates (carbaryl) Chlorantraniliprole (Acelepyn) Indoxycarb (Provaunt) Insect growth regulators (halofenozide) Neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid,

dinotefuran, thiamethoxam)

Pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-

cyhalothrin, permethrin) Spinosad (Conserve) Bacillus thuringiensis

Caterpillars

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Fall armyworm 4-5 generations

Cutworms 4-7 generations

Sod webworms 3-4 generations

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Avoid irrigation for 24 hours

Photo: UNL

White Grub Species •  Larvae of scarab beetles. Japanese beetle Masked chafer May or June beetle Green June beetle Black turfgrass ataenius Others

•  Can be identified using the raster pattern.

•  Could have one-year or multiple-year life cycle.

Photo: Clemson

a. Green June beetle; b. masked chafer; c. May or June beetle; d. Japanese beetle

b

c

Photos: UGA, UNL, TAMU

d

Chafers, Cyclocephala spp.

•  Both northern and southern masked chafers.

•  Brownish adults do not feed, often attracted to light.

•  Full-sized grubs are usually less than 1” setae are scattered on raster feed on organic matters

and roots •  One year life cycle

Photos: UC Davis, UNL

May or June Beetles, Phyllophaga spp.

•  Adult sizes and color vary, feed on foliage and fruits, attracted to light from April to June.

•  Full-sized grubs are 1” or larger setae are in zipper alignment

on raster feed on organic matters or

roots •  Mostly with 2 year life cycle.

Photos: NCSU, UNL

Japanese Beetle

•  Adults are serious landscape and fruit pests; active flyers from May to June.

•  Grubs are usually 1” setae are arranged in V-

shaped on raster feed on roots of grass

and shrubs •  One year life cycle.

Photos: Bugwood, TAMU

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Black turfgrass ataenius

•  Sporadic pest of turfgrass; increasing in importance?

•  Adults are quite small, shiny black; usually not active flyer.

•  Grubs are very small (0.2”) setae are arranged

randomly but with two patches on raster

thrive on short, moist, compacted thatch

•  2 generations per year; damage most severe in July-August.

Green June Beetle

•  Sporadic pest of turfgrass. •  Adults are large velvety

green beetles, very active day flyer; attracted to rotten or fermented fruits.

•  Larvae are larger than 1.5” in most cases short setae in two

parallel rows on raster prefer high organic

content in soil crawl on back

•  Annual life cycle. Photos: Purdue and PSU

Green June Beetle

Photo: www.turf.uark.edu

Green June Beetle

Photo: www.turf.uark.edu

Other occasional grubs

Asiatic garden beetle, notice the characteristic swollen stipes near the mouth of grubs and the transverse curve row of setae on the raster.

Oriental beetle, adults with mottled pattern, and grubs with two rows of setae on raster and a deep grove.

Typical annual grub (Japanese beetle) life cycle

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White grubs •  White grubs of all species

feed on roots.

•  Damaged turf will look similar to drought stress, with thinning and wilting.

•  Feel spongy underfoot; turf can be rolled back when cut.

•  More damage can be done by other animals trying to grab a grub to eat.

Photo: OSU

Another kind of grub… Billbug

•  Billbug is a group of weevil.

•  Several species but the most common in SC is the hunting billbug.

•  Life cycle is poorly know; maybe 2 or 3 generations per year.

•  Usually overwinter as large grubs or adults.

Photo: UNL, PSU

Photos: UNL, Clemson

VS

To tell a billbug grub from a scarab (white) grub

Billbug grub:

Has no legs

Has no obvious setae on raster

White grub:

Has 6 legs

Has obvious setae pattern on raster

Billbugs

•  Grubs feed on roots and adults feed on stems.

•  Particularly damaging to zoysiagrass and bermudagrass.

•  Damage is similar to white grubs damage; with very late and bad green-up in the spring.

Photo: greenmediaonline.com

Scarab and Billbug Grubs Monitoring

•  Monitoring: Grubs: Cut a piece of sod on three sides and roll back; or

use a cup-cutter; dig deeper if late in the season Adults: Scarabs: Light or pheromone traps Billbugs: Pitfall traps

Photos: OSU, UVt

How to make a pitfall trap?

A pitfall trap consists of

a.  Outer cup

b.  Funnel cup

c.  Collection cup

Photo: Ohio State Univ., Dave Shetlar

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Scarab and Billbug Grubs Management

•  Management: Cultural: Withhold irrigation during scarab beetle flight period

(June-July); Careful management of fertilization and irrigation to

keep grass healthy; and Do not plant preferred food plants around turf.

Photos: OSU; farm4.static.flickr.com

Scarab and Billbug Grubs - Biological

•  Management: Biological: Few options. Some parasitoids (Tiphia sp.

wasp); predators? Milky spore not effective.

Photos: USGA, UNC, ISU

Scarab and Billbug Grubs - Chemical •  Management

Chemical: Organophasphates (acephate, chlorpyrifos) Carbamates (carbaryl) Chlorantraniliprole (Acelepyn) Insect growth regulator (halofenozide) Neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid,

dinotefuran, thiamethoxam) Pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin,

lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, cypermethrin)

Threshold is usually 10 grubs/sq ft

Scarab and Billbug Grubs - Chemical

•  For best results: Select the best insecticides based on season Timing: White grubs: Apply preventively

in May and June; curatively against young grubs from June to August.

Billbug: Treat in spring and summer based on adult monitoring.

Remember: Water in after application.

Life cycle of Japanese beetle

April May June July August Sept Oct Adult Egg

Grub First

Second Overwintering Third

Pupa

Preventive Curative

Scarab and Billbug Grubs - Chemical

•  The most appropriate insecticides for different control actions:

•  Preventive (May – June): Neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid,

dinotefuran, thiamethoxam) Chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn)

•  Curative (June – August): Organophosphates (acephate, chlopyrifos) Carbamate (carbaryl)

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Water in soon after application

Two-lined Spittlebug

•  Feed on both grasses and ornamental plants.

•  Becoming a problem in centipedegrass; causing yellowing of grass blades.

•  Overwinter as eggs; emerge in spring, produce spittle mass; adults feed on all inds of plants.

•  At least two generations per year.

Two-lined Spittlebug

•  Monitoring: Look out for adults when mowing; down to the ground to search for nymphs in the grass.

•  Management: Cultural: Increase mowing height; reduce thatch. Biological: Not well known. Chemical: Organophosphates (acephate) Carbamates (carbaryl) Neoniotinoids (clothianidin) Pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin) Do not water grass after application.

Rhodesgrass Mealybug

•  Feed on all grasses; but seeing more on St. Augustinegrass in 2008.

•  White masses on the internotes of grass, sometimes on the crown; often with a ‘tail’ sticking out.

•  A generation takes about 2-6 weeks; several generations per year.

Rhodesgrass Mealybug

•  Monitoring: Look for the white masses on the notes of grass. •  Management:

Cultural: Maintain healthy turf; remove clippings Biological: Some predators and parasitoids. Chemical: Organophosphates (chlopyrifos) Carbamates (carbaryl) Neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam) Pyrethroids (bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, lambda-

cyhalothrin, permethrin) Use high volume; avoid watering after application.

Ground Pearl

•  More of a problem on residential lawns; severely damaging centipedegrass.

•  Pinkish adults appear in late spring or early summer.

•  Immatures are encrusted in yellow waxy ‘pearls’.

•  One generation may last 1-2 years.

•  No control available. Photos: OSU

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Bermudagrass Mites

Bermudagrass Mite

•  A species of eriophyid mite – adults have 3 pairs of legs, instead of 4 pairs like other mite species.

•  Elongated, cigar-shaped; TINY!! •  Cause characteristic bunchy-top symptom –

deformation at the internodes.

Bermudagrass Mite

•  Management: Cultural – Remove all clippings from infested areas. Biological – Unknown. Chemical – thorough coverage is the key. bifenthrin (Talstar) deltamethrin (DeltaGard) dicofol (Kelthane) lambda-cyhalothrin (Scimitar) diazinon (Diazinon) – no longer available.