Transcript Golf Course Nuisance Pests - The Ohio State University

Nuisance Insect
(& Non-Insect) Pests
of Golf Courses
David J. Shetlar, Ph.D.
The “BugDoc”
The Ohio State University,
OARDC & OSU Extension
Columbus, OH
© January, 2007, D.J. Shetlar, all rights reserved
We’ll define
NUISANCE PESTS
as ones not normally
damaging turf, but associated
with our turf and regularly
causing concern
Common Golf Course
Nuisance Pests
Turfgrass ant
Solitary bees & wasps
Biting flies
Spiders
Ground beetles
Earthworms
Birds & Mammals (skunks,
raccoons, moles, voles, etc.)
Other?
The “Turfgrass Ant” Problem
(Lasius neoniger)
The “Turfgrass Ant” Problem
(Lasius neoniger)
Makes volcano-shaped mounds
Mounds interfere with ball roll
Mounds kill turf in 3-5 inch areas
Sand and soil dull mower blades
“Turfgrass Ant” Distribution
(Lasius neoniger)
“Turfgrass Ant” Biology
Mounds appear to be interconnected subcolonies.
Feeds on fats, proteins & sugars.
Peak summer brood – May to August.
New reproductives released in August to
September.
Often associated with turf root aphids.
Seems to prefer sandy soils!
Mounds extend into borders of greens
but colonies are outside
1994 Ant Mound Control
Control
15DAT
Control
40DAT
Control
94DAT
Amdro 0.88Bait @0.07lb
94%
0%
53%
Amdro 0.73Bait @0.73lb
89%
55%
26%
Dursban 1Bait @1.1lb
89%
96%
77%
Dursban 50W @1.0lb
72%
86%
65%
Treatment
Clyde, OH, 28 Apr - 13 May, 9 Jun, 1 Aug;
9.0, 12.8, 5.4 ant mounds/yd2 at 15, 40, 94 DAT
1996 Ohio Ant Control Trial
18 DAT
28 DAT
42 DAT
81 DAT
Treatment
Rate
Talstar 0.66F
0.2
100
94
63
14
8
Talstar 0.2G
0.2
48
61
54
14
39
Talstar 0.66F(2X)
0.2
76
88
75
0
11
Merit 75 WP
0.3
33
64
67
81
76
Merit 0.5G
0.3
0
15
23
90
74
Dursban Bait 1G
1.5
19
64
60
62
26
Dursban 6.6%
1.0
33
48
13
0
26
appl - 2May (20 May), Clyde, OH
116 DAT
1999 Ohio Ant Control Trial
Treatment
Rate
30 DAT
79 DAT
97
57
31
34
40
0.3
100
28
20
57
75
Dursban Pro
1.0
66
38
4
2
10
Merit 0.5G
0.4
29
14
57
77
83
MACH2 2LTI
1.5
63
48
43
47
38
Fipronil 0.05G
0.025
63
43
49
98
98
Scimitar 0.88GC
0.06
Scimitar 0.88GC
0.06+
Merit 75WP
13 DAT
appl - 27 April, Clyde, OH
128DAT
169DAT
2000 Ohio Ant Control Trial
Treatment
Rate
7DAT 14DAT 28DAT 12WAT 21WAT
Talstar 0.2G
0.2
87
60
26
0
2
Fipronil 0.014G
0.0125 22
30
10
22
65
Fipronil 0.014G
0.025
37
12
22
63
88
Merit 75 WP
0.4
11
36
60
98
60
Meridian 25WG
0.26
60
81
95
98
67
Meridian 25WG
+Scimitar 0.88GC 0.06
98
100
90
90
79
appl - 17May; Clyde, OH;
14.8, 13.5, 14.2, 6.4, 6.0 mounds/sq.yd.@7, 14 & 28DAT&12 & 21WAT
2001 Ohio Ant Control Trial
Treatment
Rate
Talstar 0.2G
0.2
Fipronil 0.014G
7DAT 14DAT 28DAT 10WAT 16WAT
35
25
0
0
6
0.0125
0
0
0
0
54
Fipronil 0.014G
0.025
0
7
0
32
83
Merit 0.5G
0.4
0
0
0
5
37
Meridian 0.33G
0.26
6
23
31
93
71
appl - 7May; Clyde, OH;
4.0, 5.8, 7.6, 4.9, 5.5, 4.4 mounds/sq.yd.@ 0, 7, 14 & 28DAT&10 & 16WAT
2006 Ant Trial – July Curative
Treatment
Rate
6DAT 14DAT 22DAT 44DAT
Allectus Fert
0.45 lb.
65
81
67
86
Allectus Fert
0.90 lb.
87
96
87
87
Allectus GC
0.45 lb.
84
82
84
71
Allectus GC
0.90 lb.
88
93
88
92
Arena 50WDG
0.30 lb.
80
89
80
91
Talstar F GC
0.20 lb.
96
62
96
33
Orthene TTO
1.00 lb.
57
16
57
55
Orthene TTO
2.00 lb.
84
47
84
82
Clyde, OH; applied 18 July; ant mounds in 4x8ft strip down middle of 10x10ft plots,
25.8, 28.5, 25.8 & 24.5 mounds per plots in checks at 6, 14, 22 & 44 DAT.
“Turfgrass Ant” Control
Recommendations
For SEASON-LONG control, make
applications when mounds FIRST
APPEAR – (Arena or Merit)
For quick knock down – (Dursban, Talstar,
DeltaGard, Scimitar, Tempo-Ultra)
Try MaxForce Granular Insect Bait –
(contains hydramethylnon = Amdro)
Look for fipronil bait – (currently, only
registered for fire ant control in southern
states only - FireStar)
Nuisance Bees & Wasps
Notes:
Entomologists consider these solitary bees and wasps to
be beneficial, but most people who fear stings think that all
bees and wasps are “bad.” Cicada killer wasps capture
and paralyze annual cicada species, drag them back to
their burrows. In the burrow, the cicada is placed in a
chamber and an egg is attached to its body. The wasp
larva devours the cicada over the next couple of months
and pupates until the next summer. Some solitary “digger”
wasps collect stink bugs or horse flies for food. Solitary
bees are usually only active during the spring and the adult
females collect pollen and nectar for their brood. None of
these bees and wasps are overly protective of their
burrows and you would likely have to try to pick up one of
the females in order to get stung!
Cicada Killer
Notes:
The cicada killer is one of the most common wasps that
annoy golf course superintendents and golfers. They
commonly construct their burrows along the edges of
bunkers or in other high points around the course. The
males are aggressive defenders of their territories, but
since they have no stinger (remember that only females
have a sting!), they are harmless. Females and males
may buzz back and forth in front of anyone who
approaches the burrows, but stings are extremely rare.
The best control is to dust individual burrows with
insecticide dust so that the nesting wasp has to walk
through the insecticide. Tennis rackets are handy knock
down devices!
Yellowjackets
Notes:
Ground nesting yellowjackets usually begin their nests in
old vole or rabbit burrows though other ground cavities are
used. Each nest is started by a single queen, but by the
end of the season, the colony can swell to several thousand
workers. Yellowjackets will rarely sting unless they fear that
their nest will be disturbed or attacked. Therefore, avoiding
the burrow opening is a good option, since the colony will
die off after the first hard freeze. If the nest is near where
people frequent, control may be necessary. Apply
insecticide dust, wasp sprays or household ammonia (pour
a quart down the nest opening (AT NIGHT!) to control these
pests.
Paper-nest Wasps (Polistes)
Notes:
Paper nest wasps (often called umbrella nest wasps)
commonly build their nests under the overhang of shelters
and buildings, but some may nest in trees, shrubs or the
cavities of switch boxes or weather stations. Knock these
nests into a plastic bag, AT NIGHT, when the wasps won’t
fly. Long reaching wasp sprays are also effective but
these should be applied at night with careful use of a
flashlight.
These wasps are considered beneficial as they are major
predators of caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects.
Carpenter
Bees
Notes:
Carpenter bees look like bumble bees, but carpenter bees
have a shiny black abdomen and their heads are as wide as
the thorax. Carpenter bees are solitary and they construct
brood burrows lumber. Cedar and spruce seem to be
preferred woods. As with the cicada killer, males are
territorial and they will often intimidate any animal that
intrudes into “their” territory. Again, males have no stinger
and are harmless. Females are more concerned about
constructing their burrows, and collecting nectar and pollen
for their broods. Insecticide dust puffed into their burrows
can be effective in controlling the females. Pest control
operators also have foam sprays which can be applied to
the burrow openings.
Mosquito larvae prefer stagnant or
temporary pools of water!!
Notes:
Though most articles on mosquitoes claim that mosquito
larvae only live in temporary pools of water, there are
several species than can survive in the weedy edges of
ponds and lakes. Therefore, the best control is to improve
drainage of places where rain or irrigation water collects for
days at a time, and to reduce the weeds (especially cat
tails) along pond edges.
Mosquito Management
Improve water drainage!
Eliminate cattails around ponds!
Apply Bactimos (Bt) to water.
Temporary Relief (for special
outings) – spray trees & shrubs
with pyrethroid insecticide
Noseeum
Punkies
Sand Flies
Notes:
Noseeums are tiny flies that feed on blood as adults, but
their larvae breed in damp soils, often along lake, pond or
river edges. Topical insect repellents are often effective, but
may have to be reapplied.
Noseeums seem to prefer warm, still weather and they
usually strike at dusk. Therefore, play during windy, sunny
days!
Other Biting Flies
Face Fly
Horse & Deer Flies
Notes:
The face fly is a common pest of livestock, so problems with
this fly usually indicate that cows or horses are near by! The
adults lay eggs in fresh manure. The adults are persistent
biters and they can fly a half mile or more if there are not
animals near their emergence place.
Horse and deer flies (commonly called greenheads because
of the large, green eyes) are vicious biters of large animals.
The larvae are semi-aquatic, living in the muck and damp
soils around lakes and ponds. Therefore, cleaning out
weeds and vegetation around permanent bodies of water
can help reduce horse fly and deer fly numbers.
Bowl-and-Doily Spider Web
Notes:
The tiny bowl-and-doily spider commonly makes a small web
over the surface of turf in order to capture small flies. By
morning, these webs may be covered with dew and many
golf course superintendents have been told that these
webbing spots are evidence of sod webworms or fungal
mycelium. Sod webworms don’t make loose webbing over
the surface of the turf, and fungal mycelium usually appears
as white, cottony material under the dew.
Therefore, these spider webs should be ignored!
Sod webworm damage to green often resembles disease or other maladies.
Seedcorn Beetle (a ground beetle!)
Notes:
Over the last few years, the common seed corn beetle has
been more commonly found digging into golf greens and
tees. Normally, this beetle seeks out germinating corn and
soybeen seed where it lays eggs. Its larvae then feed on
the soft plant tissues. For some reason, the adults of these
beetles are often attracted to greens and tees where they
dig into the profile and kick up a small mound of soil.
Mowing or whipping of the surface the following morning will
eliminate these mounds until the next night when new
beetles may arrive.
Applications of surface insecticides (e.g., Dursban or one of
the pyrethroids) rarely provide lasting or desired control but
the activity usually ceases in a week or two.
Earthworm Castings
Notes:
Earthworms that leave surface castings can be a real
nuisance, especially on the surface of golf greens and tees.
However, since earthworms are considered beneficial soil
aerification agents and they aid in the destruction of thatch,
few want to openly talk about control of these animals.
Because modern pesticides have to be screened for
earthworm toxicity, we have few pesticides that have any
adverse action on earthworms!
Earthworm Management
Reduce irrigation frequency
Sevin or Thiophanate-methyl
“Sharp” sands?
Ammonium phosphate?
TOLERENCE!
Starling probes after
grubs!
Crow “tuft
pulling” – looking
for grubs!
Hints:
Persistent bird feeding in turf would suggest that insects
may be present and a closer look is often warranted! While
birds will forage for turf-infesting caterpillars (e.g.,
cutworms, sod webworms and armyworms), they also
commonly pull out white grubs. On the other hand, they
may be feeding on other insects or arthropods such as
ants, spiders, millipedes, or black turfgrass ataenius adults.
Raccoons ROLL back the turf in search of grubs!
Skunks pull up tufts of turf and make “nose holes” in the soil!
Notes:
While we associate raccoon and skunk digging in turf with
white grubs, they are often feeding on earthworms! Inspect
the turf carefully to determine if grubs are present and
select a rapid acting material to control the grubs if present.
To stop animal digging until the controls work, try spreading
Milorganite fertilizer over the area. This “organic” human
sewage plant sludge has a distinctive odor that skunks and
raccoons avoid. In some cases, spreading Milorganite is
all that is needed when grub populations are not actually
damaging the turf!
Notes:
Remember that the primary food of moles is earthworms!
While they will readily feed on white grubs when they find
them, mole activity is not necessarily a “sign” of a grub
problem. Since moles feed on earthworms and insects,
grain baits used for meadow mice control are rejected as
are most baits. Sound devices also are tolerated in a short
period of time.
A new bait, Talpirid, is being marketed. This bait looks like a
“gummy worm” and appears to be readily accepted by
moles. Place this bait in several places where moles are
making their straight (daily patrolling) burrows. Otherwise,
traps and patient looking are the best mole control
strategies.
Mammal Management
•
•
•
•
•
Trap or Shoot?
Skunks & Raccoons haven’t read the
damage threshold charts! (3-5 grubs per
sq. ft. is sufficient)
Primary food of moles is earthworms!
Skunks & Raccoons also feed on
earthworms (especially night crawlers)
Spread Milorganite!
Voles or Meadow Mice
Voles are called meadow mice
Voles feed on plants and the bark of
trees.
Voles commonly make burrows
through thick turf or through mulched
flower beds
Voles are best controlled with grainbased baits available for crop
protection.
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