TURFGRASS INSECT MANAGEMENT

A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects
Author: Bastiaan Drees and John Jackman
Size: 14 K - Submitted: 02/2003

Bermudagrass Mites
Chinch bugs are very small and feed on the nodes of turfgrass plants. You normally see chinch bug damage in dry spots of your lawn first and they slowly move outward as they eat up grass plants.

Bermudagrass Scale
Close examination reveals whitish moldy-appearing, clam-shaped material on stems, nodes and crowns.

Billbugs
Small yellow to brown patches expanding to large irregular brown areas; young larvae feed in stems.
Size: 4.5 K

Black Turfgrass Ataenius
Gradual turf thinning in enlarging patches that turn brown; roots pruned to 1 inch or less below soil surface; sod easily lifted or rolled back; C-shaped white grub larvae found by lifting sod; adults of most species are active at night, but do not feed on grasses.

Chinch Bug
Small, scattered wilted patches, soon turn yellow, enlarge to 2 to 3 feet, then turn brown

Chinch Bugs in St. Augustine Lawns (L-1766)
The southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis, is one of the most important insect pests of St. Augustine-grass in Texas. Although most damaging in Gulf Coast regions and in the southern half of the state, chinch bugs can be a problem anywhere St. Augustinegrass is grown.
Author: M.E. Merchant, R.L. Crocker

Cutworm
Grass plants severed at soil surface by relatively large, 1.2 to 1.8 inch long, brownish black larvae; adult night-flying moths attracted to light.
Size:4.4 K

Fall Armyworms
Circular to irregular, dead patches; leaf blades appear transparent from plant cells being eat.
Size: 4.4 K

Frit Fly
Turf unthrifty, slow growing; youngest leaves turn yellow and die; stem apex may be damaged; individual plants turn brown and die,

Glossary of Insect and Related Plant Terms and Insect Order Characteristics
Size: 24.0 K

Ground Pearls
Infested turfs turn yellow, then brown in summer, and die in fall in irregular patches; examination of sod plug at 2 to 3 inch soil depth reveals globular, whitish, pearl-like shells attached to the roots.
Size:3.8 K

Integrated Pest Management
IPM is defined as a multi-disciplinary, ecologically-based pest management system that uses all available methods to keep pests at non-damaging levels while minimizing the effects on man, the environment, and turf.
Author: Gene R. Taylor
Size: 7.2 K

Masked Chafers
Gradual turf thinning in enlarging patches that turn brown; roots pruned to 1 inch or less below soil surface; sod easily lifted or rolled back; C-shaped grub larvae found by lifting sod; adults do not feed on turf and are active at night; beetles are about ½ inch long and tan-brown; adults strongly attracted to light; larvae grub from 3 /16 to 1 inch through 3 instars-have irregular pattern of bristles on the raster.

Mole Crickets
Shallow burrows uproot turfgrass plants and soil during nocturnal tunneling, with grasses dying of dessication
Size: 4.8 K

Red Fire Ants
What a nuisance these insect pests are in home lawns around Texas. Here you can see a red ant hill in a home lawn situation.

Sample Pesticide Application Record Form

Sod Webworm
Irregular small yellow to brown patches, enlarge and coalesce.
Size: 5.2 K

Spittlebugs
Infested turf wilts and tips turn yellow and eventually brown then curl; produces masses of frothy material or spittle that encircles twigs, leaves and at nodes.

Sprayer Calibration for Turfgrass (L-5331)
Proper application of pesticides and fertilizers on turfgrass is possible only with an accurately calibrated sprayer.
Author: Gene R. Taylor, II, Jason Gray
Submitted 10/1999

Spreader Calibration for Turfgrass (L-5330)
Proper application of pesticides and fertilizers is possible only with accurately calibrated equipment.
Author: Gene R. Taylor, II, Jason Gray
Submitted: 10/1999

Texas A&M University Turfgrass Program
Size: 9.1 K

Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Plan
Texas Cooperative Extension fire ant web site.

Turfgrass Pesticide Suggestions (SCS-1999-01) (pdf)
Recommendations are based on information on manufacturer's labels and performance in a limited number of trials.
Size: 69.7 K - Submitted 1999

White Grubs in Texas Turfgrass
White grubs are the larval stage of insects commonly known as May or June beetle (or Junebugs). Almost 100 species live in Texas, most of which do not cause significant economic damgae to crops or horticultural plantings. A few species, however, commonly damage turfgrass and other cultivated plants.
Author: M.E. Merchant, R.L. Crocker