1. University of Florida Research Update Eileen A. Buss Entomology & Nematology Dept. University of Florida/IFAS

2. Southern Chinch Bugs (Blissus insularis)

3. Southern Chinch Bugs 1 generation occurs about every 6-8 wks 1 generation occurs about every 6-8 wks Multiple generations per year Multiple generations per year Adults may live up to 2 months, and each female can lay ca. 300 eggs Adults may live up to 2 months, and each female can lay ca. 300 eggs Populations are very aggregated; greater competition may lead to dispersal, lower survival, longer development, & fewer eggs Populations are very aggregated; greater competition may lead to dispersal, lower survival, longer development, & fewer eggs In colony, >70% RH is needed for survival, & development is faster at higher temperatures In colony, >70% RH is needed for survival, & development is faster at higher temperatures

4. Resistance Management for the Southern Chinch Bug Determine the mechanism(s) of resistance Determine the mechanism(s) of resistance Penetration of cuticle, enzymatic, metabolic, behavioral Penetration of cuticle, enzymatic, metabolic, behavioral Evaluate cross resistance Evaluate cross resistance Develop rotation strategies based on the cross resistance profile Develop rotation strategies based on the cross resistance profile Test different insecticides for ovicidal activity Test different insecticides for ovicidal activity Assess the effect of nitrogen on chinch bug survival, development time, and fecundity Assess the effect of nitrogen on chinch bug survival, development time, and fecundity Determine how to adjust St. Augustinegrass fertilization practices Determine how to adjust St. Augustinegrass fertilization practices

5. Fertilization Horn & Pritchett. 1962. Fla. Turfgrass Assoc. Bull. 9:3-5. Horn & Pritchett. 1962. Fla. Turfgrass Assoc. Bull. 9:3-5. Excessive fertilization of lawns with quick-release inorganic N resulted in less chinch bug damage. Excessive fertilization of lawns with quick-release inorganic N resulted in less chinch bug damage. Slightly less fertilization actually increased chinch bug damage. Slightly less fertilization actually increased chinch bug damage. Busey & Snyder. 1993. Int’l Turf. Soc. Res. Jour. 7:353-357. Busey & Snyder. 1993. Int’l Turf. Soc. Res. Jour. 7:353-357. Chinch bug populations were greater on small plots fertilized with ammonium nitrate, IBDU, or milorganite compared to non-fertilized plots. Chinch bug populations were greater on small plots fertilized with ammonium nitrate, IBDU, or milorganite compared to non-fertilized plots.

6. Nitrogen Rate Test 2006 St. Augustinegrass pots will be treated monthly with either 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 lbs soluble N/1000 sq. ft. St. Augustinegrass pots will be treated monthly with either 0, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 lbs soluble N/1000 sq. ft. 12 L:12 D, 70-80% RH, and 29-31  C 12 L:12 D, 70-80% RH, and 29-31  C RCBD, 5 replicates RCBD, 5 replicates 1 attached runner from a pot will be inserted into a clear plastic container with 30 chinch bug eggs. 1 attached runner from a pot will be inserted into a clear plastic container with 30 chinch bug eggs. Length of time from egg hatch to adult emergence, percent survival, percentage of adults with long vs. short wings, ratio of males to females will be recorded. Tibial leg length, which is correlated with female fecundity, will be measured with an optical micrometer. Length of time from egg hatch to adult emergence, percent survival, percentage of adults with long vs. short wings, ratio of males to females will be recorded. Tibial leg length, which is correlated with female fecundity, will be measured with an optical micrometer.

7. Nitrogen Effects on Fecundity Twenty fifth instars of similar age will be placed on each 3-inch long, attached runner. Twenty fifth instars of similar age will be placed on each 3-inch long, attached runner. Pots and chinch bug arenas will be maintained in the greenhouse under 12 L:12 D, 70-85% RH, and 31-33  C. Pots and chinch bug arenas will be maintained in the greenhouse under 12 L:12 D, 70-85% RH, and 31-33  C. Containers will be checked daily after nymphs have molted to adults, and eggs will be removed and counted daily for two months. Containers will be checked daily after nymphs have molted to adults, and eggs will be removed and counted daily for two months.

8. Natural Enemies Big-eyed bugs (Geocoris spp.) Big-eyed bugs (Geocoris spp.) Scelionid egg parasitoid (Eumicrosoma benefica) Scelionid egg parasitoid (Eumicrosoma benefica) Anthocorids (Xylocoris vicarius, Lasiochilus pallidulus) Anthocorids (Xylocoris vicarius, Lasiochilus pallidulus) Nabids (Pagasa pallipes) Nabids (Pagasa pallipes) Earwigs (Labidura riparia) Earwigs (Labidura riparia) Several ant species Several ant species Spiders (Lycosa spp.) Spiders (Lycosa spp.) Reinert, J. A. 1978. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am 71: 728-731.

9. Effect of Pesticides on Beneficials Geocoris uliginosis Geocoris uliginosis Pesticides: Pesticides: Bifenthrin (TalstarOne): 0, 1, 10, 100, 1000 ppm Bifenthrin (TalstarOne): 0, 1, 10, 100, 1000 ppm Label rate (low to high): 47 – 94 ppm Label rate (low to high): 47 – 94 ppm Carbaryl (Sevin SL): 0, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000 ppm Carbaryl (Sevin SL): 0, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000 ppm Label rate (low to high): 5,472 – 7,265 ppm Label rate (low to high): 5,472 – 7,265 ppm No. replicates: 50 unsexed adults, <7 days old No. replicates: 50 unsexed adults, <7 days old

10. Response of G. uliginosis to Bifenthrin Treatment Rate 72 Hours Post-exposure to Sprig (ppm)(% AI) % Moribund and/or dead 0 ---0 11/10,000 12.5 101/1000 25.0 1001/100 87.5 1,0001/10 100.0 Current no. reps = 8 LC 50 = 16.5

12. Billbug Biology Objective: Describe the adult and larval billbug activity periods in northern and southern Florida Objective: Describe the adult and larval billbug activity periods in northern and southern Florida 2 golf courses in Gainesville, 1 in Miami, and 1 in Key Largo 2 golf courses in Gainesville, 1 in Miami, and 1 in Key Largo Four linear pitfall traps were placed in bermudagrass roughs on each course in Jan. ‘06 Four linear pitfall traps were placed in bermudagrass roughs on each course in Jan. ‘06 Adults collected weekly in 24 hr samples Adults collected weekly in 24 hr samples Soil cores taken monthly to collect larvae and pupae Soil cores taken monthly to collect larvae and pupae Partial funding was provided by the FTGA, FGCSA, and GCSAA Partial funding was provided by the FTGA, FGCSA, and GCSAA

13. Billbugs on Florida Golf Courses (Sphenophorus spp.) S. apicalis S. cariosis S. inaequalis S. minimus S. venatus vestitus Photos by Ta-i Huang

14. Cultural Control of Billbugs Objective: Evaluate the impact of overseeding with endophytic ryegrass on billbug populations. Objective: Evaluate the impact of overseeding with endophytic ryegrass on billbug populations. 2 rates of 2 commercial varieties of endophyte enhanced perennial ryegrass will be overseeded onto a golf course in fall 2006. Control= endophyte-free ryegrass. 2 rates of 2 commercial varieties of endophyte enhanced perennial ryegrass will be overseeded onto a golf course in fall 2006. Control= endophyte-free ryegrass. Plots: 10 x 10 ft. Five replicates, in a RCBD. Plots: 10 x 10 ft. Five replicates, in a RCBD. Evaluations: Five 4-inch cupcutter samples will be sifted in January and March 2007 for billbugs. Turf color and density (0-9 scale) and amount of endophyte present will be assessed. Evaluations: Five 4-inch cupcutter samples will be sifted in January and March 2007 for billbugs. Turf color and density (0-9 scale) and amount of endophyte present will be assessed.

15. Biological Control of Billbugs Objective: Determine the effectiveness of several biopesticides against billbug larvae. Objective: Determine the effectiveness of several biopesticides against billbug larvae. Treatments: Treatments: Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Heterorhabditis bacteriophora H. indica H. indica Steinernema carpocapsae Steinernema carpocapsae S. riobrave S. riobrave Untreated control Untreated control Plots: 10 x 10 ft. Four replicates, in a RCBD. Plots: 10 x 10 ft. Four replicates, in a RCBD. Evaluations: Five 4-inch cupcutter samples will be sifted 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment for billbugs. Turf color and density (0-9 scale) will be assessed. Evaluations: Five 4-inch cupcutter samples will be sifted 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment for billbugs. Turf color and density (0-9 scale) will be assessed.

16. Chemical Control of Billbugs Objective: Evaluate preventive and curative insecticides against larvae and adults Objective: Evaluate preventive and curative insecticides against larvae and adults Treatments: Treatments: Allectus 0.81 SC (2 rates), Arena, Merit 2F, Merit 0.5G, several rates of thiamethoxam, TalstarOne, Talstar G, Dylox, and an untreated control Allectus 0.81 SC (2 rates), Arena, Merit 2F, Merit 0.5G, several rates of thiamethoxam, TalstarOne, Talstar G, Dylox, and an untreated control Plots: 10 x 10 ft. Four replicates, in a RCBD. Plots: 10 x 10 ft. Four replicates, in a RCBD. Evaluations: Five 4-inch cupcutter samples will be sifted 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment for billbugs. Turf color and density (0-9 scale) will be assessed. Evaluations: Five 4-inch cupcutter samples will be sifted 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment for billbugs. Turf color and density (0-9 scale) will be assessed. Partial funding provided by Bayer ES and Syngenta Partial funding provided by Bayer ES and Syngenta

17. Greenbug Aphids Pest of grains & grasses Pest of grains & grasses In Florida, main host is seashore paspalum In Florida, main host is seashore paspalum Feeding causes yellow or red leaf spots, tip “burning” Feeding causes yellow or red leaf spots, tip “burning” Females reproduce without mating Females reproduce without mating One generation takes only 7-9 days at temps of 60-80°F One generation takes only 7-9 days at temps of 60-80°F