1. Turf Pests of Florida Florida

2. 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 0.033 Eggs are kidney-shaped measuring about 0.033 inches long by 0.012 inches wide inches long by 0.012 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:

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6.   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

7. Chinch Bug Damage UF - IFAS

8. 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.

9. 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.

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

11. Managing Chinch Bugs 2. Predators Striped Earwigs Good egg predators

12. Big-Eyed Bug Predatory Insect

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

14. Managing Chinch Bugs 4. Insecticide treatments Threshold: 20 - 25 bugs per square foot Many products are labeled Can treat damaged areas plus a 5 foot buffer

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

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

17. Mole cricket damage

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

20. Inspecting for Grubs Treat with labeled pesticide

21. Two lined spittlebug Spittlebug Spittlebug froth

22. 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.

23. Treat with labeled pesticide Spittlebug damage

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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.

28. Keep cutting blades sharp to prevent leaf damage

29. 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

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

31. Monitoring for Turf Pests Weekly pest monitoring is recommended

32. 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 3 - 4 random places in healthy turf 5. Concentrate along the edges of brown edges of brown patches patches 6. Also works for chinch bugs bugs

33. 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 3 - 4 locations locations

34. 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 http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/