Turf Pest Control

Section 206 of CO QS

How do you diagnoses a turfgrass problem?

Identify what grasses are involved, then determine how the problem occurred. Once identified, determine best management practices.

What are the benefits of a healthy turf?

Healthy turfs tolerate environmental stresses, compete with weeds and can recover from insect/disease damage

What is IPM

A combination of multiple pest management practices to provide the healthiest turfs

What are the 5 steps of IPM

Education, Monitoring, Prevention, Intervention/Control, Evaluation/Planning

What are the pest management methods

soil management, turf grass selection, cultural practices, physical/mechanical removal, pesticides

What is tolerance?

inherent ability of species to survive and reproduce after application

What is resistance?

acquired ability of pest to survive and reproduce following exposure that is normally lethal

What is single use resistance?

Resistance to only one site or mode of action

What is cross pesticide resistance

resistance to 2 or more families with same site or mode of action.

What is cross pesticide resistance

resistance to 2 or more pesticides with different site or modes of action

What is an insect

3 regions, head, thorax and abdomen, adults have 3 pairs of legs

What is simple metamorphosis/

Eggs —> Nymphs —> Adults

What is complete metamorphosis?

Eggs —> Larvae —> Pupae —> Adults

What is an arachnid?

Has 4 pairs of legs and a 2 body region (cephalothorax and abdomen)

What are macro-decomposers?

Help break down dead plant matter and accelerates recycling/ return of nutrients

What is endophytic fungi?

Fungi that grows within plant, helps protect plants from insects that feed on leaves, found in many turf grasses

What are the major classes of insecticides in turf?

Parathyroids, neonciothinoids, and antronilic diamidies

What is a contact insecticide?

Penetrates through exoskeleton

What is a stomach insecticide?

Must be eaten

What is systemic insecticide?

Moving through plant from the leaves to the roots

What pH can insecticides loose effectiveness?

pH 7, to help add buffer or acidifer

How do you protect pollinators ?

read the label, never apply to blooming weeds, and mow blooming weeds before applications

What is a white grub?

Immature larval stage of scarab beetles, can cause significant plant damage

How to tell if white grubs are present?

lawn appears drought stressed, roots are clipped, soil under turf is loose, distinctive C-shaped larva can be found.

how do you treat for white grubs?

irrigate prior to treatment to allow grubs to rise, treat early as young larvae is more susceptible, must treat in root zone

What are masked chafers?

Adults are shiny, light-brown scarab beetles that are about ½ inches long with dark bank across head and spots on each side of throax

Larve are creaming white with 3 pairs of legs and curves in a C shape

What is the life cycle of masked chafers?

Emerge in June and continue for about 1.5 months they are fully size by September

What kind of damage does white grubs cause?

feeds under turf cover, clipping roots

What are May/June Beetles?

Largest white grub species found and are about 1-1.5 inches long and turn into large scarab beetles

What is the life cycle of June Beetles?

long-lived, about 3 years in soil. Populations synchronized

What kind of damage does May/June beetles cause

larvae/grubs feed on grass roots causing weltering and often death

What is the IPM for May/June beetles?

Extremely difficult to control with herbicides

What is a Japanese Beetle?

C shaped grub with creamy white body and dark head.

Adults are metallic green with coppery brown wing tips

5 small patches of short white hair along each side of abdomen

What is the life cycle of a Japanese beetle?

One year, females can lay up to 60 eggs that are about 2-3 inches deep in soil.

Larvae feed on roots; sensitive to soil drying

Pupates in spring

Adults emerge from June to August

What kind of damage does Japaneses beetles cause?

grasses can die from drought since they feed on roots, main concern in Colorado is adults can skeletonize leaves