You Are Here: Management Updates 2003 Archive March 10, 2003

Date: March 10, 2003
Category: Insects
Subject: What Can We Expect for Insects This Spring?

Many turf managers have been asking me whether the harsh conditions of this winter might have an impact on insect survival. Unfortunately, in general I suspect most insect species will survive just fine, in spite of the severe cold we have experienced. The snow cover, which certainly has been more wide-spread and more persistent than in previous years, provides an excellent insulating blanket for some of the insects that survive near the surface, and most grubs had time to adapt to the onslaught of winter and were able to burrow down through the soil profile ahead of the frost last December.

So gazing into my crystal ball, I suspect we will find that most white grubs (especially European chafers) will survive the winter with little or no mortality. Among the insects that normally survive on or near the surface, I expect most of them to come through the winter virtually unscathed. This would include annual bluegrass weevils (a.k.a. Hyperodes weevils) and black turfgrass ataenius.

For those who experienced chinch bug activity last year (which was elevated because of the hot, dry conditions prevalent thoughout the Northeast), I suspect the initial populations in the spring will be higher than normal. However, if we happen to get a cool and wet spring, there is a possibility that there will be some natural mortality courtesy of a naturally-occurring fungus that attacks the chinch bugs in those conditions.

Most black cutworms overwinter further south as adults. Because the winter has been unusually cold up and down the Atlantic coast, moths ended up flying further south than usual, and it will probably take them a little longer than "normal" to get back to the Northeast. But of course sod webworms survive just fine through our winters, so they may be active pretty nearly on schedule this spring.

Good luck!

- Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum