Pests Prognosis

Every region has different problems when it comes to pests. So we reached out to a number of experts to find out what pests were most popular (or unpopular) across the country in 2011 and what was done to control them. We also looked forward to 2012 to find out what pests will be common next year.
– Lawn & Landscape staff  
 
 

SOUTHEAST

Pests: Chinch bugs, mole crickets, white grubs, billbugs, armyworms, ants, bluegrass weevil and spittlebug on Centipedegrass
 

Control: Neonicotinoids to control chinch bugs, and which will also provide control of white grubs and mole crickets. Apply in April-June as populations begin building. Follow up with a summer application of a pyrethroid to help manage chinch bug resistance and improve control of other pests, such as ants and caterpillars. – Joe Chamberlin, regional field development manager, Valent Professional Products

The key to controlling chinch bugs is rotating chemical applications. This insect has developed lack of sensitivity to some of the products used to control it. The grub complex in the transition zone and more northern areas can be controlled with neonictinoids along with new products with the active ingredient chlorantraniliprol. – Kathie Kalmowitz, market development specialist, BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals
 

What to expect in 2012: A continued introduction and spread of invasive pests that affect landscape ornamentals – Wood-boring beetles, scale and whiteflies top the list. (You need an) increased use of neonicotinoids to control pyrethroid-resistant chinch bug. – Chamberlin

NORTHEAST

Pests: Grubs, stink bugs, chinch bugs, sod webworm, billbugs, crane fly
 

Control: Active ingredients including, cyfluthrin, trichlorfon, imidacloprid and bifenthrin can all be used for the control of grubs, chinch bugs, sod webworm and billbugs, and imidacloprid and the combination of imidacloprid and bifenthrin are particularly effective for grubs, but application timing is critical. Applications should be timed to catch insects as they hatch or at the early or nymph stages. If treatment is made after widespread damage is seen, it is typically too late. – Frank Wong, technical service specialist, Bayer

The best way to control grubs is to put out a preventative insecticide with active ingredients including thiamethoxam and imidacloprid at the proper time, which means getting it down before egg hatch. In the Northeast, that is usually late June and early July. – Mike Agnew, senior technical manager, Syngenta

The crane fly was new to the Northeast this year. The best management for crane fly infestation is treating the larvae in the spring or fall before damage starts to show in May and June. Spring applications should be made sometime in March or April with products containing the active ingredient bifenthrin. In areas with high infestations, an application is recommended sometime from October to November. – Bobby Walls, development manager, turf and ornamental, FMC Professional Solutions

What to expect in 2012: Insects and diseases are pretty consistent in lawn care. With the heavy rains, there could be a reduction in grub populations as naturally occurring Bts (Bacillus thuringiensis) could be reducing populations in soil. We won't know until next spring when adults fly. – Dan Loughner, business development leader, Dow AgroSciences
 

NORTHWEST

Pests: Bluegrass billbug, annual white grubs and the European crane fly

Control: For the control of billbugs, an application of clothianidin and bifenthrin at peak adult activity, which generally occurs around June 1, is recommended (and it) will also control annual white grubs. Applying the chemicals in late January to early February will control the European Crane Fly. – Sam Wineinger, key account manager/territory sales manager Western U.S. at Arysta LifeScience

What to expect in 2012: LCOs can expect more of the same – these are ever-persistent and historical problems; preventative action is the only way to keep them in control. – Wineinger

MIDWEST

Pests: Annual white grubs

Control: A healthy, dense stand of turfgrass that has been properly fertilized, mowed and watered is the best strategy to cope with all pests. A sound fertilization program with an emphasis on fall fertilization of cool season grasses is a great way to promote turfgrass recovery this fall and develop a strong turf for 2012. Lawns with a history of annual white grub damage should be treated in late spring/early summer, depending on location, with a preventive insecticide application targeted specifically for annual white grubs. – Dave Heegard, general manager, LebanonTurf

What to expect in 2012: Unfortunately, more of the same. It seems like we are having a stretch of hot summers. As long as summers are hot, cool season turfgrass lawns will be under stress, making them less competitive with weeds. On a stressed lawn, any insect damage will be more noticeable. The end result is a tough summer for cool season turfgrass lawns and LCOs. – Heegard

SOUTHWEST

Pests: Pearl scale in Hybrid Bermuda grass, ants and grubs
 

Control: Properties with a history of a specific pest would be wise to plan a preventative treatment. Insect issues tend to be much less predictable in the desert Southwest, and as a result most turf professionals treat once a pest appears with the exception of areas with high grub pressure where products that contain as imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, chlorantraniliprole or trichlorfon as the active ingridients may be used. – Vince Aguiar, sales representative, Dow AgroSciences
 

What to expect in 2012: Landscape professionals should be on the lookout for resistance issues with herbicides, fungicides and insects. In light of weather models forecasting lower than normal rainfall, turf managers will need to monitor unfavorable soil conditions due to their reliance on poor quality irrigation water. Stressed turf will present opportunities for insect issues to arise. – Aguiar