Kikuyugrass A-Z session at 2019 Golf Industry Show. Presentation by Wendy Gelernter, Ph.D.

1. Kikuyugrass:
Insect and arthropod pests
Wendy Gelernter, Ph.D.
www.paceturf.org

2. Insect
and
Arthropod
Pests
• White grubs
• Billbugs
• Mites (???)

3. • Japanese beetle, Popillia
• Masked chafers,
Cyclocephala
• Asiatic beetle, Maladera
• Oriental beetle, Anomala
• Green June beetle, Cotinus
White grubs

4. • Japanese beetle, Popillia
• Masked chafers,
Cyclocephala
• Asiatic beetle, Maladera
• Oriental beetle, Anomala
• Green June beetle, Cotinus
White grubs

5. 1. The larva (grub) is
the damaging stage
It is most susceptible to
control when newly
hatched
White grubs

6. White
grub
damage

7. White
grub
damage

8. White
grubs &
vertebrates

9. White
grubs &
vertebrates

10. 2. Adults are scarab
beetles that don’t
feed on turf
White grubs

11. 2. Adults don’t feed on
turf
But pay attention to
when they first appear
White grubs

12. 1 egg laying
period
=
1 preventive
application

13. 3. Eggs are laid in
areas with higher
soil moisture
White grubs

14. Soil moisture sampling: TDR 300 soil
moisture meter & Trimble Ag GPS 132

15. Soil moisture determined in 95 areas that showed
signs of grub damage

17. • Monitor
• As low as
reasonable
• Keep on
top of
irrigation
distribution
Soil moisture management

18. 4. Preventive control
targeted as small
larvae provides best
results
Curative control of
large grubs is
feasible, but
difficult
White grubs

19. White grub control
AI Product Preventive Curative
chlorantraniliprole Acelepryn *** *
clothianidin Arena *** **
cyantraniliprole Ference *** *
imidacloprid Merit *** *
thiamethoxam Meridian *** **

20. 1. The larva (grub) is the damaging stage
2. Adults are scarab beetles that don’t feed on turf
3. Eggs are laid in areas with higher soil moisture
4. Preventive control of small larvae provides best
results
White grubs

21. Billbugs

22. Phoenician
billbug
Sphenophorus
phoeniciensis

23. 1. The larva is the damaging stage.
It’s most susceptible to control when it is newly
hatched
Billbugs

24. Billbug
damage

25. Billbug
damage

26. Billbug
damage

27. Billbug
damage

28. Billbug
damage

29. 1. The larva is the damaging stage
But detection is difficult
Billbugs

30. 1. The larva is the damaging stage
2. Look for 1st symptoms at spring green-up
Symptoms mimic dollar spot, spring dead spot,
delayed green-up, drought stress
Billbugs

31. The “tug test”

33. 1. The larva is the damaging stage
2. Look for 1st symptoms at spring green-up:
3. Can be a year-round pest with multiple
generations, so multiple applications may
be needed
Billbugs

34. 2. Look for 1 symptoms at spring green-up:
3. Can be a year-round pest with multiple
generations, so control timing is difficult
4. Preventive applications against larvae are most
effective.
• If you’ve had previous problems with
billbugs, consider preventive applications at
green-up.
• A 2nd application may be necessary ~3
months later
Billbugs

35. Billbug larval control
AI Product Preventive
chlorantraniliprole Acelepryn ***
clothianidin Arena ***
cyantraniliprole Ference ***
dinotefuran Zylam **
imidacloprid Merit **
thiamethoxam Meridian ***

36. 1. The larva is the damaging stage
2. Look for 1st symptoms at spring green-up
3. Can be a year-round pest with multiple
generations, so multiple applications may be
needed
4. Preventive applications against larvae are most
effective.
Billbugs

37. • Japanese beetle, Popillia
• Masked chafer, Cyclocephala
• Asiatic beetle, Maladera
• Oriental beetle, Anomala
• Green June beetle, Cotinus
Steneotarsonemus hippodromus damage to kikuyugrass in Australia
DS Loch et. al., Int. Turfgrass Soc. Res. J. 13:502-511 (2017)
Mites

38. • No data on control of Steneotarsonemus
• Cultural practices:
• Low mowing/scalping + clipping removal
• Frequent irrigation
• Avoid excessive N
• Chemical control: Divanem (abamectin) for
bermudagrass mite
Mites