Turfgrass & Landscape Insects & Mites (an evening workshop) David J. Shetlar, Ph.D. The “BugDoc” The Ohio State University, OARDC & OSU Extension Columbus, OH © December, 2004, D.J. Shetlar, all rights reserved

Turfgrass Insect Activity in 2004 White Grubs - continued patchy, significant increases across Ohio. Billbugs – masked by rain! Chinch Bugs – showing up more in high quality, Kentucky bluegrass lawns. Caterpillars (sod webworms/ cutworms/ armyworms) – generally down because of rain.

Grub Complex – May/June Beetle green June beetle European chafer masked chafer Japanese beetle Oriental beetle Asiatic garden beetle Ataenius Aphodius Grub Complex – Changing each year!

Grub Complex – May/June Beetle green June beetle European chafer Japanese beetle Masked chafer Oriental beetle Asiatic garden beetle Ataenius

Japanese Beetle – Japanese beetle adult skeletonizing leaf Mating cluster of beetles in turf

Identifying Grub Species Japanese beetles have a V-shaped pattern!

Japanese Beetle Life Stages – egg 1st 2nd 3rd pupa adult instar larva

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Japanese Beetle Annual Cycle

Masked Chafers – Pair of masked chafers at night on turf Masked chafer eggs newly laid (below) 48 hours in moist soil (above)

Identifying Grub Species Masked chafers have no pattern!

European Chafer – © H. Niemczyk European chafer adults swarming to tree at dusk for mating Adult

Identifying Grub Species European chafers have Y-shaped anus & two rows of bristles that diverge at anus. Y-shaped anus with two rows of bristles.

Oriental beetle adults can vary considerably in color, but most specimens have two darker spots on the pronotum. They commonly feed on flowers during the night. Asiatic garden beetles are small, brownish beetles with an iridescent sheen. The adult nibble on the edges of various leaves and the larvae are most common near flower beds.

Identifying Grub Species Oriental beetle has two rows of small spines, in number. Asiatic garden beetle has vertical anus & broad U-shaped spine pattern.

Ranked Efficacy of White Grub Insecticides 1976 – 2003 a – rateaverange% of tests Insecticidelb.ai./a.% control# tests% controlbelow 70% Carbaryl (=Sevin) Chlorpyrifos (=Dursban) Permethrin Trichlorfon (=Dylox, Proxol) a Data from ESA publications ( ) & Ohio testing using masked chafer and Japanese beetle data where label timing recommendations were used and at least 4.0 grubs per sq.ft. were found in checks. Clothianidin (=Arena) Halofenozide (=MACH2) Imidacloprid (=Merit)

Comparison of Grub Insecticide Efficacy by Time of Application Halofenozide (7)94.4 (23)88.3 (20)89.6 (19) 77.7 (27) (=MACH2)2.0 Imidachloprid (12)90.6 (18)94.5 (23)94.5 (27) 94.2 (34) (=Merit) (1)88.0 (1)89.0 (1)82.0 (1) --- Clothianidin (1) (1) (=Arena) (1) Trichlorfon (5) 77.7 (19) rate ave % control (#tests) Insecticidelb.ai./a.MayJuneJulyto Aug 16to Sept 10 a Data from ESA publications ( ) & Ohio testing using masked chafer and Japanese beetle data where label timing recommendations were used and at least 4.0 grubs per sq.ft. were found in checks.

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Japanese Beetle Annual Cycle Traditional Control Timing Preventive-Early Curative Timing

Billbugs Bluegrass Billbug, Sphenophorus parvulus Hunting Billbug, S. venatus vestitus Phoenician (=Phoenix) Billbug, S. phoeniciensis Chittenden Rocky Mountain (=Denver) Billbug, S. cicatristriatus Fahraeus

Blugrass billbug adult Hunting billbug adult Denver billbug adult Phoenician billbug adult

Bluegrass Billbug Adult and larva Larva in crown

Billbug or Hairy Chinch Bug Damage??

Billbug Diagnosis – Use the “tug test”

Bluegrass Billbug Life Cycle in Ohio

1999 Ohio Billbug Curative Treatment Scotts 3.2% diazinon on Ortho Diazinon (5%G) Ortho Dursban (1%G) Intercept H&G (0.1% deltamethrin) Spectricide 3X (0.25 permethrin) MACH2 2LTI % ControlRate appl - 11 Jun; Wooster, OH; read - 30 Jun(19DAT); 24.4 BBs/sq.ft. check VIGRO 3.34% diazinon on %G Bifenthrin

1999 Ohio Billbug Preventive Treatment% ControlRate DeltaGard 0.4SC MACH2 2LTI Scimitar 0.88GC Meridian 25W Merit 75WP appl - 6May; Columbus, OH; read - 25June(48DAT); 32.0 adults/sq.ft. check Meridian 25W Date Appl 7 May 11 Jun 7 May 11 Jun

2000 Ohio Billbug Preventive Test Treatment% ControlRate 4.36 Diazinon 3.34G Talstar Fert 0.2G Talstar PL 0.2G Tempo 0.1G Diazinon 3.2G 95 appl - 16 May; Wooster, OH; read - 5July; 24.7 larvae/sq.ft. check

2001 Ohio Billbug Preventive Test Treatment% ControlRate 0.2 Talstar 0.147G Permethrin 0.25G Tempo 0.1G Diazinon 3.2G Talstar 0.086G 43 appl - 24 May (late preventive); Wooster, OH; read - 12July; 17.8 larvae/sq.ft. check 0.4 Merit 0.5G MACH2 1.5G 36

Hairy Chinch Bug Life Stages egg 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th normal winged short winged instar nymphs adult adult

Hairy chinch bugs in thatch Hairy chinch bug adults - long wing & short wing forms

Hairy chinch bug life cycle in Ohio with damage and control windows

2000 FL Southern Chinch Bug Control Treatment Talstar PL 0.2G “ “ Meridian 0.33G DeltaGard 0.1G Dursban 1G Rate % Control appl. 7 Sep., Boca Raton, FL; scb/sq.ft. 6 DAT; St. Augustinegrass 6DAT

2001 Ohio Hairy Chinch Bug Control Treatment Merit 75WP Arena Tempo Ultra Talstar SC Arena Tempo 20WP Rate % Control appl. 30 Aug., Springboro, OH; & hcb/sq.ft. 7, & 14 DAT 7DAT14DAT

2002 OH Hairy Chinch Bug Control - LC Treatment LC0.04G LC0.04G LC0.04G Talstar EZ.2G LC0.04G LC0.04G-28 Rate % Control appl. 27 Aug., Dublin, OH; & hcb/sq.ft. 8, & 16 DAT LC = lambda-cyhalothrin (=Scimitar) formulations 8DAT16DAT LC0.04G-29

2002 Ohio Hairy Chinch Bug Control Treatment Merit 75WP Arena DPX-150SC Talstar EZ.2G Arena Meridian 25WG Rate % Control appl. 27 Aug., Dublin, OH; 70.2 & hcb/sq.ft. 3, & 15 DAT 3DAT15DAT

2003 OH Hairy Chinch Bug Control - Misc Treatment Merit 75WP Merit 75WP Arena G Talstar EZ.2G Arena G Spinosad G Rate % Control appl. 18 Sept., Pickerington, OH; & hcb/sq.ft. 6 & 13 DAT LC = lambda-cyhalothrin (=Scimitar) formulations 6DAT13DAT Spinosad NAP

2003 OH Hairy Chinch Bug Control - Comb Treatment Talstar EZ 0.2G Talstar EZ 0.2G TalstarF+Merit Merit 0.5G TalstarF+Merit2 Rate % Control appl. 25 Sept., Pickerington, OH; & hcb/sq.ft. 6 & 14 DAT 6DAT14DAT

2004 OH Hairy Chinch Bug Control – Clothianidin (Arena) & Facin (botanical) appl. 25 Aug., Pickerington, OH; 132.9, & hcb/sq.ft. 7, 14 & 28 DAT TreatmentRate % Control 7DAT28DAT14DAT Arena 50WP Arena 50WP Arena 0.5G Talstar EZ.2G Arena 0.5G oz/M99Facin oz/M71Facin64

2004 OH Hairy Chinch Bug Control – Alternate Products – Spinosad, Azadirachtin, Facin appl. 22 July, Pickerington, OH; 44.0, 44.0 & 56.9 hcb/sq.ft. 7, 14 & 21 DAT TreatmentRate % Control 7DAT21DAT14DAT Spinosad 0.3G Spinosad 0.3G Azatrol 0.1G Talstar 0.115G Azatrol 0.1G oz/M87Facin oz/M77Facin92

2004 OH Hairy Chinch Bug Control – Imidacloprid + Bifenthrin Combo & Acetamiprid appl. 25 Aug., Pickerington, OH; 212.8, & hcb/sq.ft. 7, 14 & 21 DAT TreatmentRate % Control 7DAT21DAT14DAT Acetamiprid Acetamiprid Talstar One F Merit + Talstar Acetamiprid Talstar One F Merit 295

Cutworms & Armyworms (Noctuidae) Cutworms Black Cutworm Agrotis ipsilon Bronzed Cutworm Nephelodes minians Variegated Cutworm Peridroma saucia Armyworms Common Armyworm Pseudaletia unipuncta Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda Yellowstriped Armyworm S. ornithogalli

Black cutworm damage spots on short-cut bentgrass. Black cutworm larva feeding at night. Black cutworm larvae the morning after treatment with insecticide.

The true armyworm, often called the common armyworm, has dark and light colored stripes and a )-(-mark on the head. The adult armyworm is a simple buff color with a diagnostic small white spot on each wing. Armyworm larvae can seemingly eat turf down to the thatch “literally over night!”

Fall armyworm egg mass on tree leaf. FAW egg mass on post. FAW larva showing white Y-mark on head. FAW adult male.

Sod Webworms True Sod Webworms [Crambinae] Tropical Sod Webworms [Pyralinae] Bluegrass WW P. teterrella Larger SWW Pediasia trisecta Western SWW Tehama bonifatella Striped SWW Fissicrambus mutabilis Corn Root Webworm Crambus caliginosellus Vagabond Crambus Agriphila vulgivagella Tropical SWW Herpetogramma phaeopteralis

Sod Webworms Spring damage Larva and frass Adult bluegrass webworm

Cranberry Girdler (=subterranean sod webworm) Chrysoteuchia topiaria (Zeller) Notes: This pest is technically a crambid type sod webworm, but it has a very different larval behavior. The larvae tend to feed on the stems and crowns of turf, when large, rather than feeding on leaves. Infested turf tends to die in irregular patches, often at the time that white grubs would be causing similar damage. In thick turf, the dead canopy can be pulled back to reveal considerable amounts of straw colored frass pellets on the soil/thatch surface. With grubs, the entire turf canopy with the thatch can be pulled back to reveal grubs in the soil/thatch interface.

Cranberry girdler adults are small crambids with distinctive bands of silver scales along the wing tip. The adults tend to fly from late June through much of July. There is only one generation per year. Cranberry girdler larvae have the typical sclerotized plates that all sod webworms have, but the plates are the same color as the rest of the integument. Therefore, the typical spots are not apparent!

Turf Caterpillar Controls InsecticideRate % Control# Tests Organophosphates Diazinon Dursban Dylox/Proxol Orthene Carbamates Sevin Turcam

Turf Caterpillar Controls InsecticideRate % Control# Tests Pyrethroids Astro DeltaGard Scimitar Tempo Spinosyn Conserve

Turf Caterpillar Controls InsecticideRate % Control# Tests Chloronicotinoid Merit Molt Accelerator (growth regulator) MACH Nematodes S. carpocapsae1.0 bil89.67 H. bact.0.5 bil67.04

Insect and Mite Activity in 2004 Still suffering from borers because of plant stresses – white pine weevil continues to spread. Cool-season pests continued through summer – esp. mites. Rain washed away most honeydew, masking aphids and scales. Invasions continue!

Borers Continue – Agrilis species Bronze birch borer

Emerald Ash Borer Discovered in Detroit area, now in over 1000 square miles in southeastern Michigan. Infestations found in Toledo area, far northwestern Ohio, and in Columbus area in November! Watch for declining ash trees – tops dying out downward. If D-shaped holes are present, then emerald ash borer is likely the only cause! Larger, round or oval holes are from other native borers. More information? –

Borers Continue – Bark Beetles – mainly conifers

Borers Continue – White Pine Weevil – white pine & SPRUCE

Borer Insecticides Traditional Dursban Lindane DiSyston (disulfoton) Cygon (dimethoate) Bidrin injection Orthene injection (Professional only) Alternatives Tempo, Talstar (Onyx), Deltagard, Scimitar, Astro Merit injection (beetles only!) Flagship? (nursery) ??? X X ??

Borer Control Approaches Cultural – Use plants that are not prone to borer attack! Plant health care – plants in good growing conditions can usually repel borer attacks. Avoid Plant Damage – damaged plants are prone to attack. Biological – Usually not effective because they attack after infestation.

Caterpillars – The Gypsy Moth

Caterpillars – Fall Webworm, Mimosa Webworm, Bagworm

Caterpillar Insecticides Traditional Dursban Sevin Orthene (Professional only) Malathion Alternatives Tempo, Talstar, Deltagard, Scimitar, Astro Conserve Merit (???) Flagship? (nursery) Bt Soaps or Oils X

Cool-Season Pests – Spruce Spider Mite – inactive most of summer!

Miticides Traditional Kelthane Morestan Cygon Orthene ? (Professional only) Alternatives Avid Hexygon (eggs & larvae only, spider mites only) Floramite (spider mites only) Sanmite (spider mites only) Conserve Pyrethroids?? Soaps or Oils X X ??

Pine tortoise scale mature females on stem. Pine needle scale second instar nymphs and male “pupae” on needles.

Pine needle scale females. Note pinkish eggs at end of scale test (shell) and a settled crawler at upper left. Group of pine needle scale settled crawlers (tan) and a couple of fresh crawlers (pinkish) in color.

Scale Control (crawlers) Traditional Diazinon Dursban Sevin Orthene (Professional only) Malathion Cygon DiSyston (disulfoton) Alternatives Tempo, Talstar, Deltagard, Scimitar, Astro Merit (soft scales) Flagship (nursery) Soaps & Oils X X ??

Black Vine Weevil Management What’s Lost? Ficam (Turcam) Orthene (professional only) What are the Alternatives? Merit! (home owner product available, apply to soil, NOT mulch, not for adults!) Pyrethroids for Adults DiSyston (disulfoton) (home owner products available, BVW not named on label, apply to soil!)

Halofenozide (MACH2)2850 Diacylhydrazine (molt accelerating compound, induces molt) Spinosads (Conserve) Spinosad (synaptic stimulation nicotinic acetycholine sites) Fipronil (Chipco Choice)97 Phenylpyrazoles (GABA receptor disruption) New Insecticide LD50s Azadirachtin A & B (Azatrol, Neem, etc.) >3540 Tetranortriterpenoid (ecdysone blocker; antifeedant)

Imidacloprid (Merit)450 Nitroguanidine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites) Thiamethoxam (Meridian)1563 Nitroguanidine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites) New Insecticide LD50s Clothianidin (Arena)>5000 Nitroguanidine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites) The Neonicotinoids Acetamiprid (TriStar)217 Pyridylmethylamine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites) Dinotefuran (Safari)>2000 Nitroguanidine (post-synaptic block, nicotinic ACH sites)

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