For 2020 and newer grants, please go to https://grants.ipmcenters.org/
Home       Current RFAs       PD User Guide       Projects       Login

Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Grants (S-RIPM)

Project Title: Optimizing Alternative Pest Management for Turfgrass in the Southeast

Project Director (PD): Kristine S. Braman [1]

Lead State: GA Lead Organization: University of Georgia

Research Funding: $72,680

Start Date: Jan-01-2004 End Date: Jan-01-2006

Summary: Research in this proposal provides additional information to optimize integration of biological control by predators and nematodes with pest suppression by deployment of host plant resistance and alternative pesticide technologies for implementation in turfgrass production, recreation and maintenance industries. The goal is to build complementary multiple strategies rather than to replace one tactic (organophosphate pest suppression) with another (host plant resistance or biocontrol or alternative pesticides). We have already developed good plant-pest resistance profiles, determined effects of alternative controls on target pests and developed preliminary data concerning conservation or augmentation of natural enemies. Objectives: Specific goals that will complement our previous and current projects are: Research Objective 1 a: Assess the effects of insecticides on the predator G. uliginosus as mediated by either resistant or susceptible turfgrass cultivars (Georgia- target pest is fall armyworm; Florida- target pest is Southern chinch bug) Research Objective 1b: Evaluate direct and indirect nontarget effects of reduced rates of traditional and alternative pest management products on the entomophagous nematode Steinernema scapterisci (Florida- target pest is tawny mole cricket) Research Objective 2: Define the predator potential of G. uliginosus as mediated by (turfgrass) host plants displaying various levels of resistance to the target pest. (Georgia- target pest is fall armyworm.

Final Report:

Results PROGRESS: 2004/06 TO 2006/06 The effect of several potential flushing solutions on the survival and infectivity of Steinernema scapterisci, was examined as well as their mole cricket flushing ability under field conditions. Seventy percent of nematodes died in a lemon dish detergent solution, confirming that assays for nematode infection of soap-flushed mole crickets may be inaccurate. An alternative, effective solution that would not kill beneficial nematodes is a dilute permethrin drench. Over 95% of the nematodes survived exposure to solutions of acephate, bifenthrin, and imidacloprid. Nematode infectivity in adult tawny mole crickets was >60% in acephate and bifenthrin, but <40% in imidacloprid. The nematode's persistence from previous releases on two Florida golf courses was evaluated. Vacuum samples were collected from 20 residential lawns in Georgia on three dates. Anthocorids were most abundant in St. Augustinegrass and were strongly correlated with the abundance of chinch bugs. Predaceous mirids were more abundant in zoysiagrass than any other grass taxon, while geocorids were well represented in all turf taxa. Adults and especially nymphs of hemipterans were more numerous in the vacuum than in sweep samples. Arthropods in vacuum samples represented 92% of the total individuals collected. Predatory potential and performance of the heteropterans, Geocoris punctipes, G. uliginosus, and Orius insidiosus, were evaluated using fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, as prey on different turfgrass taxa through laboratory and field studies. Grass taxa and Orius density significantly influenced armyworm survival. All three predator spp. provided significant reductions in armyworms compared to no-predator controls. The residual activity of seven concentrations of chlorpyrifos (Dursban 50 W), halofenozide (Mach 2) and spinosad (Conserve SC) on Geocoris spp. was evaluated with and without turfgrass as a substrate. Big-eyed bug survival differed with type of pesticide applied and was significantly influenced by insect age, dose and turfgrass taxa when treated with chlorpyrifos. Serial dilutions of bifenthrin (TalstarOne) and carbaryl (Sevin SL) were tested against Geocoris uliginosis adults in 2006. Fifty adults (7 days old) were exposed to each rate of bifenthrin (0, 1, 10, 100, 1000 ppm) or carbaryl (0, 1000, 10 000, 100 000, 430 000 ppm) for 72 hours, and the number of healthy, moribund, and dead insects were recorded. Predation of twolined spittlebug Prosapia bicincta eggs, nymphs and adults by potential generalist predators commonly found in turfgrass was evaluated. S. invincta consumed 100% of the eggs offered. H. pensylvanicus, and C. sayi were also significant predators of P. bicincta eggs. S. invincta and M. carolina carolina caused significant mortality of exposed nymphs. In the laboratory, M. carolina carolina demonstrated a type II functional response for P. bicincta and S. frugiperda. Of the total prey consumed, M. carolina carolina killed significantly more S. frugiperda than P. bicincta. The handling time, Th was significantly greater for P. bicincta than S. frugiperda. IMPACT: 2004/06 TO 2006/06 Use of nematodes to control mole crickets can be compatible with conventional turfgrass management. Monitoring data and anecdotal reports indicate that pest mole crickets are less abundant now than they were over 10 years ago, likely because of the use of biological control and fipronil products. Although commercial use of big-eyed bugs (Geocoris spp.) may not be feasible (few suppliers exist), natural populations help suppress chinch bugs in St. Augustinegrass and armyworms in various warm season grasses. Geocoris uliginosis collected from Gainesville, FL, was susceptible to bifenthrin (Talstar), but tolerant to carbaryl (Sevin). Minute pirate bugs, Orius spp. , which are commercially available, were shown to reduce fall armyworms in turf. Naturally occurring tiger beetles demonstrated potential as predators of armyworms and twolined spittlebugs. PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2004/06 TO 2006/06 1. Barbara, K. A. and E. A. Buss. 2006. Augmentative applications of Steinernema scapterisci (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) for mole cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) control on golf courses. Florida Entomologist 89 (2): 257-262. 2. Barbara, K. A. 2005. Management of pest mole crickets using the insect parasitic nematode Steinernema scapterisci. Ph.D. dissertation, Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL. 87 pp. 3. Barbara, K. A. and E. A. Buss. 2005. Integration of insect parasitic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae) with insecticides for control of pest mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae: Scapteriscus spp.). Journal of Economic Entomology 98 (3): 689-693. 4. Braman, S.K. 2004. Insect Management Tips: Back to Basics. Through the Green. publication of the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association. May/June 2004 5. Braman, S.K. 2004. Turfgrass cultivars can affect pest management needs. Turf Trends- Sept/Oct, 2004. 6. Braman, S.K. 2004. Development of pest resistant turfgrasses. Turf News. pp37-40 March/April. 7. Braman, S. K., R. R. Duncan, W. W. Hanna, and M. C. Engelke. 2005. Dual defense: Pest-resistant turf and natural enemy interactions. USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online 4(23): 1-7. 8. Braman, S. K., R. R. Duncan, W. W. Hanna, and M. C. Engelke. 2005. Fall armyworm response to insecticides: Influence of turf type. USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online 4(18): 1-11. 9. Buss, E. A. 2005. Mole crickets succumb to parasitic nematodes. Golfdom (Turfgrass Trends) 61 (8): 59-60, 62, 64. Barbara, K. A. and E. A. Buss. 2004. Survival and infectivity of Steinernema scapterisci (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) after contact with soil drench solutions. Florida Entomologist 87 (3): 300-305. 10. Barbara, K. A., E. A. Buss, and J. C. Dunford. 2004. Nematodes for hire: economical ways and greener days using integrated pest management. Florida Turf Digest 21 (5): 14-15, 18, 20. 11. Joseph, S.V. 2006. The potential role of heteropteran predators - Geocoris punctipes (Say), G. uliginosus (Say) (Geocoridae) and Orius insidiosus (Say) (Anthocoridae) in warm - season turfgrass. M.S. Thesis. University of Georgia, Department of Entomology. 156 pp. 12. Nachappa, P.B, S.K. Braman, L.P Guillebeau and J. All. 2006. Functional response of the tiger beetle, Megacephala carolina carolina L., (Coleoptera: Carabidae) on twolined spittlebug (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) and fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). J. Econ. Entomol. (in press). 13. Nachappa, P.B, L.P Guillebeau, J.N. All and S.K. Braman. 2006 Susceptibilty of twolined spittlebug, Prosapia bicincta (Say) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) life stages to entomophagous arthropods in turfgrass. J. Econ. Entomol. (in press).

Outcomes N/A

Impacts From report submitted by the PI to USDA CRIS report system Use of nematodes to control mole crickets can be compatible with conventional turfgrass management. Monitoring data and anecdotal reports indicate that pest mole crickets are less abundant now than they were over 10 years ago, likely because of the use of biological control and fipronil products. Although commercial use of big-eyed bugs (Geocoris spp.) may not be feasible (few suppliers exist), natural populations help suppress chinch bugs in St. Augustinegrass and armyworms in various warm season grasses. Geocoris uliginosis collected from Gainesville, FL, was susceptible to bifenthrin (Talstar), but tolerant to carbaryl (Sevin). Minute pirate bugs, Orius spp. , which are commercially available, were shown to reduce fall armyworms in turf. Naturally occurring tiger beetles demonstrated potential as predators of armyworms and twolined spittlebugs.

Close Window

Southern IPM Center North Carolina State University 1730 Varsity Drive, Suite 110 Raleigh, NC 27606 p. 919.513.1432   f. 919.513.1114		Developed by the Center for IPM © Copyright CIPM 2004-2025