You Are Here: Management Updates 2001 Archive May 23, 2001

Date: May 23, 2001
Category: Insects
Subject: Hyperodes Weevils, Caterpillars, Dry Spring, White Grubs

ANNUAL BLUEGRASS WEEVILS are on the prowl. We have been collecting turf samples regularly from the metropolitan New York area and Hartford, CT. Small larvae (second and third instars) are showing up in the samples that were collected on 17 May in those areas. While the current weather seems to have turned a bit cooler and damper (fortunately!), we can expect these larvae to continue to feed and grow for the next two or three weeks. Based on our observations, I would expect turf damage to become apparent in the metropolitan area within the next two weeks. The spring weather patterns were such that the larval hatch has been more spread out than usual, so we probably will see small, medium, and large larvae side-by-side throughout the rest of the summer.

Normally weevil development is delayed about a week from the New York area to most of eastern Massachusetts, so this update should serve as an alert for you to start monitoring the usual suspect areas. If you have not already applied a preventive insecticide for the weevil in Massachusetts (or for that matter in southern New Hampshire or Vermont), you are probably running out of time. In the meantime, keep an eye on your annual bluegrass. If it is looking a tad paler than usual, check it out!

CATERPILLARS?
A few turf managers are reporting caterpillar activity on putting greens. This activity is almost certainly from one of the sod webworms, which often create a C-shaped scar on the surface of the turf (a half inch to an inch long). The usual caterpillar treatments should provide relief if absolutely necessary.

DRY SPRING
The unusually dry conditions this spring have put turfgrass into stress. Many lawns in western Massachusetts appear to be dormant already. If dry conditions persist into the summer, we can expect to experience damage from chinch bugs and billbugs in the usual places (lawns in sunny areas that are subject to moisture stress). This would be a good time to begin urging people to consider using endophytic cultivars when renovating damaged areas. (This is not to imply that now is a good time to renovate - it's just a good time to start talking about it!)

WHITE GRUBS
While there may be many areas experiencing damage from white grubs (or from skunks or raccoons rummaging about in search of those tasty morsels), it is TOO LATE TO TREAT to control any of the grubs that are present. We urge turf managers to delay using products like imidacloprid (Meritª) until late June or early July, so it will be nice and "fresh" when the next crop of grubs begins to hatch in mid to late July. Other products should be applied even later in the year.

- Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum