You Are Here: Management Updates 2000 Archive July 15, 2000

Date: July 15, 2000
Category: Insects
Subject: Hyperodes Weevils, Beetle Adults, Dursban, Chinch Bugs

Now that summer weather has arrived in force, turf insect activity has really begun to increase. HYPERODES WEEVILS are well into a second generation in Westchester County, NY (plugs collected yesterday in Yonkers revealed many large larvae and pupae). We believe there will be three generations this year in southern locations (metropolitan New York and south), while it is still a bit too early to tell what will happen in much of Massachusetts. The potential for a third generation exists here, but in most cases that third generation is not as damaging as earlier generations (in part because the various life stages are spread out more, so not all individuals are in the large larva stage at the same time).
JAPANESE BEETLE adults are flying now, following their earlier cousins (EUROPEAN CHAFERS and ORIENTAL BEETLES). If we continue to get well timed rainfall, so the soil moisture remains near adequate (in other words, if turf does not go dormant from hot dry conditions), Japanese beetle females will begin laying eggs soon. Slow acting, persistent materials like Merit and Mach 2 should be applied very soon in anticipation of that egg laying. However, if the weather suddenly turns very dry for an extended period (namely, at least three weeks with little or no measurable rain), soils will dry out and many Japanese beetle females will delay egg laying. Meanwhile remember that European chafers prefer soils that are slightly on the dry side - so watch for activity on unirrigated turf. (European chafer adults are night fliers, so you may not notice them unless you go out at dusk and look toward the sunset.)

Don't panic yet about the DURSBAN decision. At least the way the ruling has been described so far, homeowners will still be able to obtain the material for home use through December 2001. Commercial uses will be curtailed as well, but not until 2002 at the earliest. Golf courses will continue to have access to Dursban but at greatly reduced rates (1 pound active ingredient per acre per year, compared to up to 4 pounds active ingredient per application previously).

This ruling may be a harbinger of things to come for the turf and ornamentals industry. As the EPA looks at pesticide regulations by considering an entire chemical class at a time, and includes possible routes of exposure ranging from residues on foods to exposures in hospitals or schools, and includes residential applications in the equation, some labels will be revised greatly. The object is to reduce exposures, particularly in children and infants. Many companies are opting to "forfeit" their turf or ornamental labels in order to protect some profitable (and, in the eyes of the EPA, more defensible) label uses in production agriculture.

Dursban is still a great product to use for CHINCH BUG activity. As the weather continues to warm and dry, you can expect to see increased activity from chinch bugs (especially on lawns that drain well, have very sandy soil, or are in full sun) or sod webworms or billbugs.

- Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum