SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/714252
www.stma.org September 2016 | SportsTurf 25 PHOTOS BY DAVID J. SHETLAR, PH.D., THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY Bluegrass billbug damage often is mistaken for summer drought or disease. If not controlled, these spots will eventually die. Bluegrass billbug larvae burrow down the seedhead stem to the crown. When they devour the crown, the plant will be killed. Northern masked chafers exposed by pulling damaged turf back. managed and stressed by a lot of travel from crop to crop. It is a fairly "inbred" species, so it is susceptible to a lot of pests — the most important is the varroa mite. These factors are often overlooked by those interested in banning pesticides. The turf use of insect controls is a very small part of the problem since turfgrasses and most landscape plants are not bee pollinated. The greatest risk to honeybees occurs in agricultural areas where bees and insect control are both critical to crop and food production. McGraw: Concerns over pollinator health are legitimate. Insecticides affect insects, and we have to be aware that our turfgrass insecticide applications may have unintended consequences. Part of that is understanding how pollinators may be harmed, and what can be done to minimize any potential risks. There has been a great deal of work from Dr. Dan Potter's lab (University of Kentucky) showing that the risk can be minimized with the proper selection of products, choosing different formulations (granules vs. liquids), and how we take care of the product after application. It's not rocket science. So, yes the concern is legitimate, but the risks may be minimal (if not negligible) with the right application procedures. FAQ: With stricter pesticide restrictions, what are some of the non-chemical means of control (or alternative insecticides or management practices) that can be used? Troutman: Most products designed to control insects will also control honeybees if misapplied. Even so called non-chemical controls will kill bees if improperly used. The best course of action is to avoid treating plants in flower with any control product. With lawns, the best practice may be as simple as mowing the flowering weeds before making an application of insect control, or to use a granular product that will not damage bees. EPA has added bee protection language instructions to all control products that threaten bees. Following these instructions is the most effective way to protect bees and our urban environment. McGraw: I was just in Ireland and Scotland and witnessed what the loss of neonicotinoids could look like. They do not have the option to use anthranilic diamides and have, more often than not, resorted to not taking action. The only other option that I presently see is the use of entomopathogenic or insect parasitic nematodes. The cost of using EPNs is high, though it may come down if more people adopt the technology. There is quite a lot that goes into the proper use of EPNs, since they are living organisms and need to be handled with care. FAQ: What do you believe to be the biggest issue in terms of insecticide misuse that, if resolved, would help place turf insecticide use in better light? Troutman: Not all bugs are bad bugs, and healthy landscapes can tolerate low populations of damaging pests, so be certain that treatment is necessary and then read and follow label instructions. Just as important is to create and protect pollinator habitat. Pollinator gardens attract and feed butterflies, solitary bees and even hummingbirds. Like turfgrass, they have important environmental functions with the added bonus of being downright beautiful. McGraw: I would say that the biggest misuse is improper timing of application or making an application to when a pest is not present. Both issues can be avoided with a little scouting. It is a pretty simple thing to do, but many don't take the extra step to do the work that is involved with scouting for insect pests. I think that the effectiveness and the lengthy residual control of some of our insecticides has made some lazy when it comes to monitoring for insects.