7/2/2013

Does the mild winter translate into more insects? Not necessarily, but we may see earlier activity, about 3 to 4 weeks ahead of schedule from a normal year. Actually, the drier weather we had experienced may counter act the warmer weather reducing the population slightly.

Now is the time to start controlling nuisance pests. Depending on your budget, I would recommend Award fire ant bait applied at 1 lb/a. in

bands throughout the areas where mounds are present. Make sure to apply the Award during a rain free period as the ants need to forage on the bait in order for it to be effective. Another option is a complete area application of TopChoice at 87 lb/a, which will provide season-long control. This application will need to be watered in to be active in the soil. Baits like Award will require at least two applications, spring and fall. A less effective method of spot treating mounds with Award or other knockdown products like Talstar or Acephate are an option but will likely just move the mound around since they rarely kill the queen.

Since we are ahead of schedule be on the lookout for cutworms sooner this year. These plump, smooth, dull-colored caterpillars that measure about 1.75 inches when mature migrate from outlaying areas around tees and greens. Make sure when you treat to apply a 20-30 ft buffer around the target area. Do not irrigate within 24 hours after application. Many of you are accustom to applying synthetic pyrethroids like Talstar or Scimitar at each outbreak of cutworms but that trend has begun to shift with the introduction of Acelepyrn.

Acelepryn is a low environmental impact insecticide that provides up 120 days of residual activity against many insects besides cutworms such as sod webworms, armyworms and grubs at the 8 oz/a rate. A 16 oz rate of Acelepyrn extends control up to 6 months for those with extended seasons. The optimum time this year would be in mid-April if the warm weather continues as we will see an earlier occurrence than in years past due the higher degree days.

Not only are worms and beetles out earlier, so are mole crickets. These destructive pests have been observed as active and have probably already begun their spring mating. Eggs laid by females require around 20 days to mature. The nymphs generally emerge in May. Control measures should target these smaller nymphs as the larger mature crickets are harder to control. Make sure the soil is moist before making any insecticide application. A late May application of Acephate or Talstar can be used to greatly reduce these hatching nymphs. A second application will be necessary as remaining nymphs will mature and eggs will be laid throughout the summer. A follow up application two weeks after the initial application will provide residual control throughout the summer. Precise is an encapsulated, controlled released insecticide containing Acephate that will provide residual control over the next several months. TopChoice can also be used as a follow up application as it will provide up to 4 months control. Another product that has been hugely successful is Chipco

Choice. Chipco Choice provides up to one year of control but has to be contracted and professionally slit injected into the soil. If you have small areas of activity, there are baits like Advion that will provide isolated control for those hot spots. Other products like Merit and Arena can be applied early in combination with contact insecticides to provide a little longer residual control. Take a look at Harrell's Stop What's Bugging You program for season-long control.

A couple of new pest have invaded the Southeast and one of those is the sugarcane beetle. It is easy to identify by its dull black color, ½ in long with small punctures along the abdomen which make up vertical stripes. We are starting to see damage in many areas. The adults do primarily most of the damage as they feed on the roots and crowns of bermduagrass and zoysiagrass.

They tend to migrate toward well lit areas and are most active during early nighttime hours. Damage is caused by excessive tunneling and often causing the turf to turn brown due to their feeding on roots and crown. These pests are easy to control with synthetic pyrethroids such as Talstar and Scimitar at labeled rates.

The other new pest which is gaining ground in Western North Carolina is the annual bluegrass weevil aka ‘The Evil Weevil’. It was first reported in NC in 2008 at a course near Asheville and has already been reported active in Western NC. These pests are black in color, 3-4 mm long and the antennae arise from the tip of their snout rather

than the base. Annual bluegrass is generally its primary host but will migrate toward perennial ryegrass and creeping bentgrass. Where populations are high and annual bluegrass is prevalent these pests can cause significant areas of dead turf. As many as 3 life cycles, generations can be found per year in the Southeast. Adults will lay eggs inside the stem between the leaf sheath and stem. The larvae do most of the damage as they live inside the stem as borers and they feed on and kill the stems. Older larvae will move to the soil and thatch area and feed primarily on the crowns. Injury appears as yellow or brown patches usually noticed first around the collar or the perimeter of close cut turf. Initial injury can be confused with disease symptoms especially anthracnose. A light tug of the grass stem will reveal the damage or weakened turf caused by larvae activity. Control has been primarily perimeter application of synthetic pyrethroids but resistance has been seen with excessive usage since multiple applications are necessary to control multiple generations. Recently, Arena has gained popularity since the chemical, chlothianidin can provide preventative larvae control. Arena also provides excellent grub and chinch bug. Like Arena, Acelepyrn can be used in combination or in sequence with a contact insecticide like pyrethroids allowing one to rotate chemistries to prevent resistance issues. Initial applications need to be targeted when Forsythia is in full bloom and new leaves have emerged. Both Arena and Acelepyrn can provide excellent white grub control while following a program to control bluegrass weevils. View our program recommendation for effective control strategies.

Insect activity can change overnight so be prepared by having product available for the upcoming pest that can affect your area. The NC State turf files website, http://www.turffiles.ncsu.edu/, is an excellent tool to monitor seasonal insect activity. Dr. Rick Brandenburg has videos and alerts highlighting current pest activity. This site is also a great resource for weeds and disease control options as well a great source of identifying common pest in turfgrass culture. Read Dr Brandenburg's article The Future is Now: New insecticides provide excellent control while reducing environmental concerns.

As always, contact your Harrell's sales representative for assistance with these and other turfgrass pests.