1. Turfgrass Insect Pests
Kansas State University
Ward Upham

2. Common Insect Problems
White Grubs
Billbugs
Sod Webworm
Cutworms
Chinch Bugs
Winter Grain Mite

3. Most Common Problem is “Grubs”
Insect Problems
Most Common Problem is “Grubs”
May Beetle (June Bug)
Southern Masked Chafer
Black Turfgrass Ataenius
Billbugs

4. Grub Insects, Adults Southern Masked Chafer May Beetle
Black TurfgrassAtaenius
Billbug

5. Grub Insects, Larvae

6. Black Turfgrass Ataenius

7. Mottled appearance to turf
White Grubs
Mottled appearance to turf

8. White Grubs
Bird Damage

9. White Grubs
Pulls Up Like Carpet

10. White Grubs
Grubs “C” Shaped

11. White Grubs
Identification
Southern Masked Chafer
May Beetle

12. Southern Masked Chafer
Annual grub
Most common grub that causes damage
Adults don’t feed that we know of

13. Southern Masked Chafer
Annual Grub

14. May Beetle
3-year Life Cycle
2nd Year Most Damaging

15. May Beetle
First Year

16. May Beetle
Second Year

17. May Beetle
Third Year

18. Number needed to cause visible damage
White Grub Control
Number needed to cause visible damage
Southern Masked Chafer: 8-9 per square foot
May Beetle: 3-4 per square foot

19. White Grub Control Merit Insecticide
Labeled for white grubs and billbugs
Considered a 3 month product
If after annual grubs, apply early to mid- July
If also seeking to control May Beetle grubs or billbugs, apply no earlier than mid-May
Causes a disruption of a grub's nervous system resulting in its death
Not for rescue treatments

20. White Grub Control Mach 2 Insecticide
Labeled for cutworms, sod webworms, billbugs and white grubs
Considered a 6 week product
Apply early to mid- July for white grub control
Accelerates a grub's development by causing it to molt prematurely
Feeding stops within a couple of hours of ingestion

21. White Grub Control Rescue Treatments Apply when see damage
Use conventional insecticide such as Dylox or Sevin

22. Summary: Ohio Grub Control Tests
Results from 1976 through 1999

23. How to Tell if Grub Affected by Insecticide
Healthy Grub
Grub on Way Out

24. Black Turfgrass Ataenius
Adult small, black beetle
Larva like miniature white grub

25. Black Turfgrass Ataenius
Only found on golf course greens or areas near greens
Overwinters as adults
Grubs present June and late August
Grubs feed on roots like other grubs
Damage usually seen at populations greater than 100 per square foot

26. Black Turfgrass Ataenius Control
Best to spray adults
Look for adults when
Vanhoute spirea blooms (First generation)
Rose-of-Sharon blooms (Second generation)
Adults swarm over turf in evenings
For adults, Scimitar will work well

27. Billbugs
Adult has snout
Larva is legless

28. Billbugs Overwinters as adults Larvae cause damage
See damage mid-July to mid-August

29. Billbugs
Damage
Mottled appearance to turf

30. Billbugs Damage Mottled appearance to turf
Hollowed out stems and frass

31. Billbugs Damage Control
Use Merit or Mach 2 during month of June as a preventative
Control adults during April if see them. Can use Scimitar for adults.
Can use Mach 2 when see damage from grubs (difficult to control because inside plant when young)

32. Sod Webworm
Adult is moth with snout
Larva have spots on side

33. Sod Webworm Damage Damage about size of softball
Spots coalesce if damage is severe

34. Sod Webworm Sign
Look for silken tunnels
Look for green “pellets”

35. Sod Webworm Control
Time spray by adult activity: Start checking for damage days after peak moth flight
Can use Sevin, Bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns) or Lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide)

36. Chinch Bugs Adults have black and white patterned wings
Found on Zoysia; a second species found on buffalograss
Larvae are reddish with white waistband

37. Chinch Bugs Adults and nymphs cause damage Found in sunny areas
Feed on grass near or slightly below turf/soil interface

38. Chinch Bugs
Can check for insects by using metal cylinder (such as coffee can with ends cut out)
Drive can into soil and fill with water

39. Chinch Bug Control Carbaryl (Sevin)
Bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns)
Chlorpyrifos (Dursban) can be used on golf courses, road medians, industrial sites but not home lawns

40. Cutworms
Can have more than one type, such as variegated, bronze and black cutworms
Variegated Cutworm

41. Cutworm Damage Larvae cut off plants near ground level
See damage early or late in season

42. Cutworms
Can use wide variety of products including acephate (Acephate, Orthene, Ortho Systemic Insect Control), bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns) , lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide) or carbaryl (Sevin) for control

43. Winter Grain Mite
Reddish legs and black body; 8 legged mite.

44. Winter Grain Mite Species Damaged Kentucky bluegrass Bentgrass
Perennial ryegrass
Tall fescue

45. Winter Grain Mite Damage
Turf has silvered, scorched appearance caused by mites rasping open leaves as they feed
Turf treated with carbaryl (Sevin) tends to be worse
Mites feed during winter to early spring months
In evening, mites come up on grass blades near edge of damage.
Mites survive the summer as eggs

46. Winter Grain Mite Control Often, turf will grow out of damage
However, if chemical control is needed; bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns) or lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide)

47. Fall Armyworm
Damage

48. Fall Armyworm
Different age larvae may look different

49. Fall Armyworm Different age larvae may look different
Identification: “Y” on head.

50. Fall Armyworm: Control
Acephate (Acephate, Orthene, Ortho Systemic Insect Control),
Bifenthrin (Talstar, Ortho Max Insect Killer for Lawns)
Lambda cyhalothrin (Scimitar, Spectracide Triazicide)

51. The End