turf pests of florida florida. life cycle of chinch bug incomplete (gradual) metamorphosis...
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Turf Pests of Turf Pests of FloridaFlorida
Turf Pests of Turf Pests of FloridaFlorida
Life Cycle of Chinch BugLife Cycle of Chinch Bug
• Incomplete (gradual) metamorphosisIncomplete (gradual) metamorphosis
Egg 6 Nymphal Stages AdultEgg 6 Nymphal Stages Adult
• Eggs laid on the soil or on plant near soilEggs 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 wideinches 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 lifetime200 Eggs in her lifetime
Eggs:Eggs:
Male & FemaleMale & Female
Second Generation (374,213 offspring)Second Generation (374,213 offspring)
First Generation (1,091 offspring)First Generation (1,091 offspring)
Third Generation (111,141,251 offspring)Third Generation (111,141,251 offspring)
(remember… 7 generations/year in South Florida)(remember… 7 generations/year in South Florida)
DamageDamage• Beak pierces the plant and sucks sap Beak pierces the plant and sucks sap • feeding results in a reddish stainfeeding results in a reddish stain• Feeding causes death to the cellsFeeding 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 deathplant causing death• Damage usually greatest during hot, dry weatherDamage usually greatest during hot, dry weather in sunny rather than shady locationsin sunny rather than shady locations• Aggregations of up to 2,300 bugs/square foot haveAggregations of up to 2,300 bugs/square foot have been reportedbeen reported
Host RangeHost Range
Are the most injurious pests of St. Augustinegrass Are the most injurious pests of St. Augustinegrass in Florida. in Florida. Are not a serious pest on any of the other lawn grassesAre 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 various pasture grasses, centipedegrass, Bermudagrass
(rare), and rice(rare), and rice
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
Chinch Bug Damage
UF - IFAS
Chinch Bug Early-Instar NymphsChinch 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.
UF - Entomology
Adult
Late-instarnymph
Late stage nymphs and adult chinch bugs are about 1/5 inch long and black; the adults have white wings.
Managing Chinch BugsManaging Chinch Bugs
1. Follow cultural suggestions1. Follow cultural suggestions
• Especially avoid excessive amounts of Especially avoid excessive amounts of soluble Nitrogensoluble Nitrogen
Managing Chinch BugsManaging Chinch Bugs
2. Predators
• Striped Earwigs
Good eggpredators
Big-Eyed BugPredatory Insect
Managing Chinch BugsManaging Chinch Bugs
3. Installing resistant/tolerant varieties ???
Managing Chinch BugsManaging Chinch Bugs
4. Insecticide treatments4. Insecticide treatments
• Threshold: 20 - 25 bugs per square foot
• Many products are labeled
• Can treat damaged areas plus a 5 foot buffer
Tropical Sod Web Worms
• Summer and fall• Notched feeding on
blades• Associated with moths• Dipel or Sevin
Mole Crickets
• Tawny mole cricket• Bahia, bermuda, St.
Augustine• Nematac
Mole cricket damageMole cricket damage
Grubs
• Grass thins, yellows, wilts, dies.
• No roots• Many different beetle
culprits• Grub Ex
Inspecting for GrubsInspecting for Grubs
Treat with labeled pesticideTreat with labeled pesticide
Two lined spittlebug
SpittlebugSpittlebug
Spittlebug frothSpittlebug froth
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.
Treat with labeled pesticideTreat with labeled pesticide
Spittlebug damageSpittlebug damage
There are many causes for turfThere are many causes for turfdecline… such as: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 practicesPoor Management practices• NematodesNematodes• DiseasesDiseases• PestsPests
In general, healthy turf is In general, healthy turf is better able to withstand pest better able to withstand pest pressure than stressed turfpressure than stressed turf
Follow guidelines for growing healthy Follow guidelines for growing healthy turf printed in the Florida Lawn turf printed in the Florida Lawn
HandbookHandbook
Cultural Practices For Management Cultural Practices For Management of Turf Pestsof Turf Pests
1. Avoid frequent or high-rate applications of water-1. Avoid frequent or high-rate applications of water- soluble inorganic nitrogen fertilizerssoluble 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 Use a Slow-Release, Complete Fertilizer 2 per year, depending on turf type year, depending on turf type
Cultural Practices For Management Cultural Practices For Management of Turf Pestsof 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-thirdof the leaf blade is removed.
Keep cutting blades sharp to prevent leaf damage
Cultural Practices For Management Cultural Practices For Management of Turf Pestsof Turf Pests
3. Do not over-water
Over-watering, especially in combination with improper fertilization, leads to lush growth and thatch
Irrigate only when grass begins to showwater stress. Apply no more than 1 inchper application.
Monitoring for Turf PestsMonitoring for Turf Pests
Weekly pest monitoring is recommended
Monitoring Caterpillars & Mole Crickets
1. Mix 1.5 fl. oz. dishwashing soap in 2 gal. water1. Mix 1.5 fl. oz. dishwashing soap in 2 gal. water
2. Drench 4 ft2. Drench 4 ft22 area with the solution area with the solution
3. Count insects that emerge3. Count insects that emerge
4. Examine 3 - 4 random places in healthy turf4. Examine 3 - 4 random places in healthy turf
5. Concentrate along the 5. Concentrate along the edges of brown edges of brown patchespatches
6. Also works for chinch6. Also works for chinch bugsbugs
Monitoring Chinch Bugs
1) Insert open ended metal can 2 inches into soil1) Insert open ended metal can 2 inches into soil in suspected areasin suspected areas
2) Fill can with water, chinch bugs will float2) Fill can with water, chinch bugs will float
3) Wait 5 minutes 3) Wait 5 minutes then countthen count
4) Repeat in 3 - 4 4) Repeat in 3 - 4 locationslocations
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/
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