Turfgrass Insect Pests

1. Turfgrass Insect Pests Kansas State University Ward Upham

2. White Grubs Billbugs Sod Webworm Cutworms Chinch Bugs Winter Grain Mite Common Insect Problems

3. May Beetle (June Bug) Southern Masked Chafer Black Turfgrass Ataenius Billbugs Insect Problems Most Common Problem is “Grubs”

4. Grub Insects, Adults Southern Masked Chafer May Beetle Black TurfgrassAtaenius Billbug

5. Grub Insects, Larvae

6. Black Turfgrass Ataenius

7. White Grubs Mottled appearance to turf

8. White Grubs Bird Damage

9. White Grubs Pulls Up Like Carpet

10. White Grubs Grubs “C” Shaped

11. White Grubs Identification May Beetle Southern Masked Chafer

12. Annual grub Most common grub that causes damage Adults don’t feed that we know of Southern Masked Chafer

13. Southern Masked Chafer Annual Grub

14. 3-year Life Cycle 2nd Year Most Damaging May Beetle

15. May Beetle First Year

16. May Beetle Second Year

17. May Beetle Third Year

18. Southern Masked Chafer: 8-9 per square foot May Beetle: 3-4 per square foot White Grub Control Number needed to cause visible damage

19. 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 Control Merit Insecticide

20. 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 Control Mach 2 Insecticide

21. Apply when see damage Use conventional insecticide such as Dylox or Sevin White Grub Control Rescue Treatments

22. Summary: Ohio Grub Control Tests Results from 1976 through 1999

23. How to Tell if Grub Affected by Insecticide Grub on Way Out Healthy Grub

24. Adult small, black beetle Larva like miniature white grub Black Turfgrass Ataenius

25. 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

26. 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 Black Turfgrass Ataenius Control

27. Adult has snout Larva is legless Billbugs

28. Overwinters as adults Larvae cause damage See damage mid-July to mid-August Billbugs

29. Damage Mottled appearance to turf Billbugs

30. Damage Mottled appearance to turf Hollowed out stems and frass Billbugs

31. 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) Billbugs

32. Adult is moth with snout Larva have spots on side Sod Webworm

33. Damage about size of softball Spots coalesce if damage is severe Sod Webworm Damage

34. Look for silken tunnels Look for green “pellets” Sod Webworm Sign

35. 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) Sod Webworm Control

36. Adults have black and white patterned wings Found on Zoysia; a second species found on buffalograss Larvae are reddish with white waistband Chinch Bugs

37. Adults and nymphs cause damage Found in sunny areas Feed on grass near or slightly below turf/soil interface Chinch Bugs

38. 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 Bugs

39. 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 Chinch Bug Control

40. Can have more than one type, such as variegated, bronze and black cutworms Cutworms Variegated Cutworm

41. Larvae cut off plants near ground level See damage early or late in season Cutworm Damage

42. 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 Cutworms

43. Reddish legs and black body; 8 legged mite. Winter Grain Mite

44. Kentucky bluegrass Bentgrass Perennial ryegrass Tall fescue Winter Grain Mite Species Damaged

45. 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 Mite Damage

46. 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) Winter Grain Mite Control

47. Damage Fall Armyworm

48. Different age larvae may look different Fall Armyworm

49. Different age larvae may look different Identification: “Y” on head. Fall Armyworm

50. Acephate (Acephate, Orthene, Ortho Systemic Insect Control), Bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns) Lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide) Fall Armyworm: Control