Insects in Golf Turf

As insect pests move and become more problematic in new geographies, superintendents need to expand control programs. Here’s some advice:

• Insects on the move:
  • Annual white grubs (Japanese beetles, chafers, European chafers, etc.) are moving west into the Rocky Mountain States as well as into the Pacific Northwest. Once present in a geography, white grubs are becoming a permanent turf problem
  • Billbugs (hunting, bluegrass) are present throughout the country, but are becoming a more prolific problem in bermudagrass in southern climates
  • Caterpillars are also present throughout the country, and armyworm can spread north in any given summer depending on weather like what occurred in 2021
• Insecticide options – All pest problems including insects are most efficiently and effectively controlled preventatively with long-lasting products like Merit^®, Acelepryn^® (Syngenta), or Envu’s latest insecticide, Tetrino^®, which brings faster uptake and quicker control compared to other similar active ingredients
• Application timing:
  • Best practice is to start applications for white grubs, billbugs, or caterpillars when adults are seen since damaging larvae are observed 1-3 weeks in the future
  • This is true for Merit and Tetrino, but Acelepryn requires more time for uptake so timing should be earlier
• Watering-in – depends on the primary insect target
  • If targeting primarily soil borne insects like grubs or billbugs, water in insecticides
    • Merit: > 0.5 inch of irrigation
    • Tetrino: 0.125-0.25” of irrigation, this will not impact efficacy of caterpillars
  • If targeting primarily foliar feeders like caterpillars, watering-in is not essential with Tetrino
• Need more info - Always read and follow the label, and contact your Envu area sales manager if you need assistance.

Approximate timing for preventative control of summer insects in golf turf. Regardless of the pest, most effective application timing is when adults are present.

	Solution sheet - Billbug
	Solution sheet - White grub - warm season

White grubs control should be applied when adults like these Japanese beetles are detected (Envu)

Controls for black turfgrass Aeteneuis should be applied when adults are detected in the mower baskets (Envu)