You Are Here: Management Updates 1998 Archive June 4, 1998

Date: June 4, 1998
Category: Insects
Subject: Adult Beetles, Hyperodes Weevils, Sod Webworms

The warm spring weather continues to result in unexpected observations regarding insect activity. We found two Japanese beetle adults on the Amherst campus on 1 June, about a MONTH earlier than "normal". Since then we have also seen adult oriental beetles and asiatic garden beetles, all a little ahead of schedule. This accelerated development means that most grub activity in the soil should be slowing down, and insecticide applications are not appropriate at this time. Most grubs should begin pupating within the next couple of weeks.

While some areas may have been showing drought-related stress during late May, especially when coupled with grub feeding activity, the heavy rains of the last week should enable most turf areas to recover nicely.

Annual bluegrass weevil development - our sample sites in Westhester County N.Y. indicate that annual bluegrass (Hyperodes) weevils are in the second and third larval instars and so should have another two weeks of feeding before they begin to pupate. Damage should become apparent very soon (around 5 June) in Westchester County and metropolitan New York, and about a week later in souther New England.

Sod webworm adults have been flying at twilight on some lawns, but caterpillar populations seldome reach damaging levels in most of New England. Watch and see what develops!

- Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum