The University of Nebraska periodically sends out info sheets dealing with different aspects of lawn and landscape care. I am going to make a point of posting the articles on this site in hopes of helping out those who maintain their own landscapes. The following info sheet deals with turf insects and their early arrival this year. I have included photos of the insects discussed to help you with identification.
Warm spring and turf-damaging insects
April 23, 2012
April 23, 2012
With the mild winter and spring temperatures, we speculate that the development of spring turf pests (billbugs and cutworms) will be earlier than a "typical" Nebraska spring. It is always recommended to monitor for turf insect pests before a treatment is warranted. Black cutworms have already been found in the state, so watch for “C”-shaped scars around aerification holes especially in creeping bentgrass areas. Billbug adults can be found on sidewalks over the next few weeks, moving from mulched areas to the adjacent turf. A few billbug adults can be tolerated and unlikely to cause damage to the turfgrass. However, if numbers are high, preventative applications may be needed. Applications can be made from now until mid-May with any of the standard products. In order to get acceptable billbug control, the active ingredient in these products should contain imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, or chlorantraniliprole. It is still a little early to predict emergence, egg-laying, and the turf-damaging larval stage of Japanese beetles and southern masked chafers. Their life cycle will be largely controlled by temperatures (growing degree day accumulation) over the next few months. Once Japanese beetles are seen in the daytime or masked chafers flying around porch lights at night, preventative insecticides can be applied on those properties with historical problems with grubs and/or animal foraging for grubs.
Mitch Stamm and Fred Baxendale, Department of Entomology
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