You Are Here: Management Updates 2000 Archive June 30, 2000

Date: June 30, 2000
Category: Insects
Subject: Beetle Adults, Hyperodes Weevils, Black Turfgrass Ataenius, Chinch Bugs

With the weather finally breaking, the insect activity is beginning to pop. We are getting numerous reports of EUROPEAN CHAFER adults - flying at sunset, congregating in large numbers on putting greens in the early morning. You can be sure these adults will be mating and laying eggs fairly soon. Again European chafers tend to prefer areas that are a little drier (south-facing slopes, open fields, LOTS of reports of grub activity in hay fields), so keep a close watch on unirrigated golf course roughs and unirrigated athletic fields. A reminder - European chafers are most prevalent in the area inside Route 495, but have spread west into other parts of Worcester County as well.
JAPANESE BEETLES should be emerging very soon. We usually consider July 4th as the time when we first become aware of the adults flying, and the warm weather the past couple weeks should have pushed the beetle development along, so I would expect many readers to be seeing Japanese beetles already. If you are planning to use a slow acting product like Mach 2 or Merit, any time during the next three or four weeks would be a good time to make the application. Be sure to water it in, though!

HYPERODES WEEVILS are just beginning the second generation in Westchester County, NY (young adults are laying eggs and some tiny larvae are showing up in samples). We are a little behind that so most golf course superintendents who are intending to make an application against the second generation should do so during the week of 10 July (for most of Massachusetts). The week of July 4th will work for many as well - buthold off if you are in northern New England (e.g., central Vermont or central New Hampshire).

BLACK TURFGRASS ATAENIUS - We have not had any reports of activity by this insect. I am assuming that many golf courses that have had damage in recent years put out a preventive treatment and that it is working. If grub damage does show up in the next week or two (typical grub signs, with weakening turf and no roots), you should get some relief with a fast acting product like Dylox or Proxol.

CHINCH BUGS AND BILLBUGS - We should start to see home lawns showing damage from either of these insects. Both tend to be more active in areas that drain well, have sandier soils, or are in sunnier locations. The damage often resembles drought, so if you see drought stress and it seems a little "early" (given all the rainfall we have been getting!), get down and take a closer look. It may be a little tricky to get good control of billbugs at this point, but there are several options for chinch bugs.

THE USUAL DISCLAIMER - While I have mentioned a few products in this update, no endorsement is intended. Similarly there may be other products that you prefer to use!

- Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum