Turf Pests of Florida Florida

Life Cycle of Chinch Bug Incomplete (gradual) metamorphosis Incomplete (gradual) metamorphosis Egg 6 Nymphal Stages Adult Eggs laid on the soil or on plant near soil Eggs laid on the soil or on plant near soil Eggs are kidney-shaped measuring about Eggs are kidney-shaped measuring about inches long by inches wide inches long by inches wide A female southern chinch bug will lay about A female southern chinch bug will lay about 200 Eggs in her lifetime 200 Eggs in her lifetime Eggs:

Male & Female Second Generation (374,213 offspring) First Generation (1,091 offspring) Third Generation (111,141,251 offspring) (remember… 7 generations/year in South Florida)

Damage Beak pierces the plant and sucks sap Beak pierces the plant and sucks sap feeding results in a reddish stain feeding results in a reddish stain Feeding causes death to the cells Feeding causes death to the cells Feeding by a large number of bugs can dwarf the Feeding by a large number of bugs can dwarf the plant causing death plant causing death Damage usually greatest during hot, dry weather Damage usually greatest during hot, dry weather in sunny rather than shady locations in sunny rather than shady locations Aggregations of up to 2,300 bugs/square foot have Aggregations of up to 2,300 bugs/square foot have been reported been reported

Host Range  Are the most injurious pests of St. Augustinegrass in Florida. in Florida.  Are not a serious pest on any of the other lawn grasses but have been observed feeding on torpedo grass, but have been observed feeding on torpedo grass, various pasture grasses, centipedegrass, Bermudagrass (rare), and rice various pasture grasses, centipedegrass, Bermudagrass (rare), and rice

  Suck the plant juices from grass (generally on nodes of runners) resulting in yellowish to brownish patches   Damage often first noticed in water stressed areas along edges of lawns

Chinch Bug Damage UF - IFAS

Chinch Bug Early-Instar Nymphs UF - Entomology   Nymphs are about the size of a pinhead after they emerge from eggs.   They molt five times before reaching the adult stage.   Small nymphs are bright red with a white band.

UF - Entomology Adult Late-instar nymph   Late stage nymphs and adult chinch bugs are about 1/5 inch long and black; the adults have white wings.

Managing Chinch Bugs 1. Follow cultural suggestions Especially avoid excessive amounts of Especially avoid excessive amounts of soluble Nitrogen soluble Nitrogen

Managing Chinch Bugs 2. Predators Striped Earwigs Good egg predators

Big-Eyed Bug Predatory Insect

Managing Chinch Bugs 3. Installing resistant/tolerant varieties ???

Managing Chinch Bugs 4. Insecticide treatments Threshold: bugs per square foot Many products are labeled Can treat damaged areas plus a 5 foot buffer

Tropical Sod Web Worms Summer and fall Notched feeding on blades Associated with moths Dipel or Sevin

Mole Crickets Tawny mole cricket Bahia, bermuda, St. Augustine Nematac

Mole cricket damage

Grubs Grass thins, yellows, wilts, dies. No roots Many different beetle culprits Grub Ex

Inspecting for Grubs Treat with labeled pesticide

Two lined spittlebug Spittlebug Spittlebug froth

Spittlebug Spittlebug feeding causes a purple and/or white stripe to run along the grass blades of infested turfgrass, especially centipedegrass. In heavy infestations, the turf wilts and the tips turn yellow, eventually brown, and then curl. In St. Augustinegrass, spittlebug injury resembles that of chinch bugs. However, unlike chinch bug injury, which tends to occur in sunny areas, spittlebug injury usually appears in shady areas.

Treat with labeled pesticide Spittlebug damage

There are many causes for turf decline… such as: Wrong turf variety for location Wrong turf variety for location (i.e., sun vs. shade) (i.e., sun vs. shade) Poor Management practices Poor Management practices Nematodes Nematodes Diseases Diseases Pests Pests

In general, healthy turf is better able to withstand pest pressure than stressed turf Follow guidelines for growing healthy turf printed in the Florida Lawn Handbook

Cultural Practices For Management of Turf Pests 1. Avoid frequent or high-rate applications of water- soluble inorganic nitrogen fertilizers soluble inorganic nitrogen fertilizers Turf looks great but results in rapid succulent Turf looks great but results in rapid succulent growth that chinch bugs and caterpillars prefer growth that chinch bugs and caterpillars prefer Use a Slow-Release, Complete Fertilizer 2 per year, depending on turf type

Cultural Practices For Management of Turf Pests 2. Practice proper mowing procedures Improper mowing can lead to development of a thatch layer which harbors chinch bugs and caterpillars…and can “tie up” insecticides Mow often enough so that no more than one-third of the leaf blade is removed.

Keep cutting blades sharp to prevent leaf damage

Cultural Practices For Management of Turf Pests 3. Do not over-water Over-watering, especially in combination with improper fertilization, leads to lush growth and thatch

Irrigate only when grass begins to show water stress. Apply no more than 1 inch per application.

Monitoring for Turf Pests Weekly pest monitoring is recommended

Monitoring Caterpillars & Mole Crickets 1. Mix 1.5 fl. oz. dishwashing soap in 2 gal. water 2. Drench 4 ft 2 area with the solution 3. Count insects that emerge 4. Examine random places in healthy turf 5. Concentrate along the edges of brown edges of brown patches patches 6. Also works for chinch bugs bugs

Monitoring Chinch Bugs 1) Insert open ended metal can 2 inches into soil in suspected areas in suspected areas 2) Fill can with water, chinch bugs will float 3) Wait 5 minutes then count then count 4) Repeat in locations locations

Author: Tom Weissling, University of Florida Photos: University of Florida Entomology And Nematology Department Copyright University of Florida 2000 For more detailed information see the Featured Creatures WWW site at