PEST MANAGEMENT
to treat for a recently discovered billbug problem , a curative approach using neonicotinoids , pyrethroids or an insect growth regulator ( such as Novaluron ) can be continually done according to label directions until the problem has been managed .
MOLE CRICKETS While mole crickets can cause damage from feeding on turf roots , stems and leaves of turfgrass , their extensive tunneling is the key objectional behavior as they are disrupters , occupying portions of their lives below ground . Mole crickets can startle some people , they have a somewhat “ cricket-like ” appearance , but their front legs have been modified into scraper like digging legs , giving them a mole-like look . There are three species that are most commonly encountered ; the northern mole cricket ( Neocurtila hexadactyla ), the tawny mole cricket ( Scapteriscus vicinus ) and southern mole cricket ( Scapteriscus borellii ). The northern mole cricket is native to North America and is rarely a pest of turfgrasses . The tawny and southern species are invasive and are serious pests of turf throughout the southeastern United States . Blade-like projections from the forelegs help distinguish between the various mole cricket species . Depending on the location , there can one to two generations of mole crickets per year with the height of damage occurring August-October .
Mole crickets can be managed using insecticidal baits , most often applied in the late spring or early summer . Fipronil , pyrethroids , neonicotinoids and combination products containing both pyrethroids and neonicotinoids are all employed in the management of mole crickets . These can be applied throughout the growing season , with varying lengths of management depending on timing . Monitoring for damage and the crickets can help inform the timing of sprays .
SOD WEBWORMS Sod webworms have the unique distinction of being categorized as both surface-feeding and subsurfacefeeding pests . Webworm adults are moths that do not damage turf . Larvae feed at night on leaves and stems near the soil surface and hide during the day in silk lined burrows , which extend through the thatch layer into the soil . Small ragged brown spots are the first symptoms of damage ; upon closer inspection , these areas have a grazed or scalped appearance . Over time , the spots coalesce and enlarge . While webworm larvae are active from mid-spring to mid-fall , the most serious injury occurs in mid- to late summer when populations are high and root systems are stressed from high soil temperatures .
Northern mole cricket . Photo by James Kalisch , UNL .
Pyrethroids are most commonly used when this pest is first found . Applications are most effective when they follow close mowing and removal of the clippings to reduce interference with the product contacting the target species . A thorough irrigation event prior to application will move larvae closer to the surface , in closer contact with the formulation . Granular applications should be followed by a light irrigation to wash the product granules off the leaves and activate the insecticide . Liquid applications may also be enhanced by light applications of water , but , as with all pesticide applications , it ’ s best to consult the label for specific details that are germane to the product . Chlorantraniliprole , when applied for grub control , would also provide season-long prevention of webworms .
John C . Fech is a horticulturist with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture . The author of two books and more than 400 popular and trade journal articles , he focuses his time on teaching effective landscape maintenance techniques , water conservation , diagnosing turf and ornamental problems , and encouraging effective bilingual communication in the green industry .
Jonathan L . Larson , Ph . D ., is an Extension professor for the University of Kentucky who provides insect expertise for people dealing with issues in urban landscapes , turfgrasses , nursery crops , greenhouses , and households . He teaches across a variety of platforms using social media , videos , and traditional Extension publications . He is one of the co-hosts of Arthro-Pod , an entomology podcast .
16 SportsField Management | March 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com