You Are Here: Management Updates 2004 Archive October 8, 2004

Date: October 8, 2004
Category: Insects
Subject: Annual Bluegrass (Hyperodes) Weevils, White Grubs

News of the weird

Annual Bluegrass Weevils
We collected turf samples from a golf course in Westchester County, NY, on Friday (1 October) and were quite startled to find several very small larvae of the annual bluegrass weevil in those samples. We found first, second, and third instars, believe it or not. Luckily, there were not very many of them, but we had no idea they could be present in those stages this late in the growing season. We will continue sampling every couple weeks until we stop seeing larvae!

White grubs
Meanwhile we were visiting a golf course in the Berkshires of Massachusetts on Monday and found several European chafer grubs feeding heartily on the turf. That is not at all surprising, as the European chafers have been spreading throughout Berkshire County (and Hampshire County, for that matter).

But the surprising thing was that the site had been submerged for three days about two weeks ago, and submerged for another three days about a week ago courtesy of the flooding rains delivered by Hurricanes Ivan and Jeanne. Normally we expect European chafers to show up in areas that drain well, but in this case the infestation is in a low-lying area of the rough, not far from some other areas that are quite a bit higher and drier. All of the grubs appeared to be perfectly healthy and were feeding very actively.

Darned if I know what is going on!

Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum