You Are Here: Management Updates 1998 Archive October 7, 1998

Date: October 7, 1998
Category: Insects
Subject: Fall Insect Finale

White grub activity has been observed throughout Massachusetts, often becoming noticable when skunks or raccoons start to rummage in the turf. While overall populations appear to be lower, some areas have experienced considerable damage. We are in the process of surveying the state to determine which species occur in which areas. Today we were sampling in Waltham, and had numerous cup cutter samples (0.1 sq. ft. each) that contained grubs from two or more species.

Grub distribution - Eastern massachusetts is now dealing with European chafers in many areas, particularly right along the Route 495 corridor south of Worcester all the way to the Cape. Cape Cod also has many pockets of oriental beetle grub activity. The central part of the state appears to be dealing primarily with Japanese beetles, while the Connecticut River valley has populations that are primarily oriental beetle OR Japanese beetle - one or the other, but usually not mixed populations. We have found European chafers in some of our samples in the Berkshires, but most samples there are yielding Japanese beetles.

It is too late to try and control any grub activity this fall - roll the affected areas, keep them watered, and hope the turf can recover. Be prepared to spot treat those areas in the spring after the grubs return to the root zone, using a fast acting material.

Otherwise the turf insect world appears to be fairly quiet - a few cutworms here and there, and a few sod webworms as well, but little or no damage.

Have a good winter!

- Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum