You Are Here: Management Updates 2002 Archive July 8, 2002

Date: July 8, 2002
Category: Insects
Subject: Turf Insects are 'Hopping!'

Hyperodes weevils (annual bluegrass weevils)
We have had reports from superintendents in western Massachusetts and Vermont filling us in on the development of Hyperodes weevils. Adults are active on the greens in the Connecticut River Valley in Massachusetts, while larvae and pupae are still active in central Vermont. Based on these observations, I would continue to recommend: when you see large numbers of adults on the putting greens (or in the baskets as you are mowing), consider applying one of the synthetic pyrethroids. This application targets the adults and hopefully will kill many of them before they have a chance to lay eggs. There should be enough residual to eliminate some of the young larvae later.

For those of you in northern New England, if you are still seeing significant numbers of larvae and pupae, hang on! Delay the application until you see the adults moving about.

Chinch bugs and billbugs
The hot, dry weather that dominated last week began to stress turf, and many areas appear to be in some level of drought stress. Just a reminder - sometimes that drought stress is actually exacerbated by either chinch bugs or billbugs. Both insects are becoming active now and their feeding damage closely resembles drought.

To scout for chinch bugs, simply get down on your hands and knees and run your fingers through the thatch. Often you can see chinch bugs scurrying through the thatch. Alternatively, you can cut a sample of turf (perhaps 4 inches on a side), put it in a bucket, and fill the bucket with water. Chinch bugs will float to the surface within a few seconds.

To scout for billbugs, tease the thatch apart with your fingers, looking for "sawdust". This material is billbug excrement (yes, there are other terms you could use here, but this is a mixed audience!) and is the telltale sign that billbug larvae are feeding in the crowns. The larvae are cream-colored with brown heads but have no legs, and normally will be in the thatch or near the crowns. As they get bigger, they will move further into the soil profile.

Researchers at Ohio State (Dave Shetlar and Harry Niemczyk) describe a "tug test" as well to look for billbugs. They suggest you take a tuft of grass between your thumg and forefinger and tug gently. If the grass pulls away easily, look for signs of larvae feeding.

White grubs
For the most part, we are between generations for grubs right now, but many of the adults are flying. We have had reports of heavy flights of Japanese beetles already, and have had reports of oriental beetles flying in several communities west and south of Boston.

- Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum