Turfgrass Insects of the United States and Canada

Patricia J. Vittum spent thirty-seven years on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, conducting research on the biology and ecology of several turf insects. She received the Distinguished Service Award from the United States Golf Association Green Section in 2015 and from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America in 2017.

1. Turfgrass in the Modern Environment

Grass Structure

Grass Identification

Turfgrass Climatic Adaptations

Major Turfgrasses in the United States and Canada

Cool-Season Grasses

Warm-Season Grasses

Summary of Grass Characters

Drought Dormancy and Its Relationship to Insect Damage

Dichondra Lawns

Economic Impact of Turfgrass Culture

2. Insects and Near Relatives

Phylum Arthropoda

Taxonomy of Insects

Form and Function of Insects and Mites

Types of Mouthparts and Turf-Feeding Damage

Other Types of Mouthparts and Feeding

Orders of Turfgrass-Damaging Insects and Mites

3. Insects and Mites: Turf Association

Habitats of Turfgrass Insects

Leaf- and Stem-Inhabiting Pests

Stem- and Thatch-Inhabiting Pests

Thatch- and Root-Inhabiting Pest

Seasonal Presence of Injurious Stages

4. Acarine Pests

Bermudagrass Mite

Zoysiagrass Mite

Buffalograss Mite

Winter Grain Mite

Clover Mite

Banks Grass Mite

5. Orthopteran Pests: Family Gryllotalpidae

Southern and Tawny Mole Crickets

6. Hemipteran Pests: Suborder Heteroptera

The Blissus Chinch Bugs

Chinch Bug Taxonomy

Hairy Chinch Bug

Southern Chinch Bug

Western Chinch Bug

Common Chinch Bug

7. Hemipteran Pests: Suborder Homoptera

Greenbug

Two-Lined Spittlebug

Rhodesgrass Mealybug

Buffalograss Mealybugs

Ground Pearl

8. Lepidopteran Pests: Family Crambidae

Temperate-Region Sod Webworms

Tropical-Region Sod Webworms

9. Lepidopteran Pests: Family Noctuidae

Cutworms and Armyworms

Black Cutworm

Variegated Cutworm

Winter Cutworm

Armyworm

Bronzed Cutworm

Fall Armyworm

Yellow-Striped Armyworm

Lawn Armyworm

10. Lepidopteran Pests: Family Hesperiidae

Fiery Skipper

11. Coleopteran Pests: Family Scarabaeidae

Overview

12. Scarabaeid Pests: Subfamily Aphodiinae

Black Turfgrass Ataenius

Aphodius spp.

13. Scarabaeid Pests: Subfamily Cetoniinae

Green June Beetle

14. Scarabaeid Pests: Subfamily Dynastinae

Masked Chafers

15. Scarabaeid Pests: Subfamily Melolonthinae

Asiatic Garden Beetle

European Chafer

May and June Beetles

16. Scarabaeid Pests: Subfamily Rutelinae

Japanese Beetle

Oriental Beetle

17. Coleopteran Pests: Family Chrysomelidae

Dichondra Flea Beetle

18. Coleopteran Pests: Family Curculionidae

Billbug Taxonomy

Bluegrass Billbug

Hunting Billbug

Phoenician Billbug, Rocky Mountain Billbug, and Other Billbug Species

Annual Bluegrass Weevil

19. Dipteran Pests: Families Tipulidae and Chloropidae

Invasive Crane Flies

European Crane Fly

Common Crane Fly

Frit Fly

20. Hymenopteran Pests: Family Formicidae

Ants—Overview

Red Imported Fire Ant

Turfgrass Ant

Harvester Ants

21. Hymenopteran Pests: Families Sphecidae and Vespidae

Bees and Wasps

Cicada Killer

Yellowjacket

22. Minor Insect Pests

Northern Mole Cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

Short-Tailed Cricket (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Periodical Cicadas (Homoptera: Cicadidae)

Leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

Fleahoppers (Heteroptera: Miridae)

Bermudagrass Scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae)

Turfgrass Scale (Homoptera: Coccidae)

Cottony Grass Scale (Homoptera: Coccidae)

Lucerne Moth (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

Burrowing Sod Webworms (Lepidoptera: Acrolophidae)

Granulate Cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Striped Grassworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Sugarcane Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Subfamily Dynastinae)

Tomarus subtropicus (Sugarcane Grub) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Subfamily Dynastinae)

Carrot Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Subfamily Dynastinae)

Polyphylla spp. Grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Subfamily Melolonthinae)

Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

Vegetable Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

March Flies (Diptera: Bibionidae)

23. Turfgrass-Associated Arthropods and Near Relatives

Turfgrass-Associated Invertebrates

Earthworms

Stinkworms

Snails and Slugs

Turfgrass-Associated Arthropods

Pillbugs and Sowbugs

Millipedes

Centipedes

Spiders

Mites

Scorpions

Ticks

Chiggers

Turfgrass-Associated Insects

Springtails

Earwigs

Fleas

Mosquitoes and Biting Midges

Wild Bees

Effect of Insecticides on Nontarget Arthropods

24. Vertebrate Pests

Birds

Mammals

25. Principles of Integrated Pest Management

Site Assessment

Scouting or Monitoring

Setting Thresholds

Predicting Pest Activity

Stress Management

Biological Control

Chemical Control

Finding Compatible Strategies

Evaluation

Advantages of Integrated Pest Management

26. Sampling Techniques and Setting Thresholds

Accurate Diagnosis

Scouting or Monitoring

Early Detection and Diagnosis

Relating Symptoms to Cause

Collecting and Labeling Specimens for Identification

Population Survey Techniques

Active Sampling Techniques

Passive Sampling Techniques

Setting Thresholds

27. Biological Control Strategies

Using Natural Enemies in Turfgrass Management

Predators

Parasitoids

Pathogens

Bacteria

Entomopathogenic Nematodes

Entomopathogenic Fungi

Rickettsias

Viruses

Protozoans

Endophytes

Pheromones

Insect Growth Regulators

Botanicals

28. Chemical Control Strategies

Accurate Diagnosis

Threshold Populations

Influence of Thatch

Timing of Application—Seasonal

Timing of Application—Daily

Windows of Opportunity

Names of Insecticides

Chemical Properties of Insecticides

Chemical Classes of Insecticides

Insecticide Resistance

Effect of Insecticides on Nontarget Organisms

Toxicity of Insecticides

Application Technology

Environmental Fate of Pesticides

Selecting an Insecticide

Pesticides and Pollinators

Other Beneficial Insects