Various kinds of caterpillars feed on turfgrasses including army cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris, larva of the 'miller moth'), black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) and armyworm (Pseudaletia unipuncta). All are in the cutworm family and typically reach slightly more than one inch when full grown.
Life history and habits vary with the different species of turfgrass cutworms. Eggs of the army cutworm are laid in late summer and early fall. Winter is spent as a young larva that resumes feeding with warm weather in late winter and early spring. Peak injury occurs in spring and, after pupation, adult forms disperse from the area and winter at high elevations. Armyworm and black cutworm are annual migrants into the region, wintering in southern areas. Consequently damage occurs later in the season. Armyworm lays eggs in masses so infestations can be very patchy; black cutworm disperses eggs.
There are a great many other surface feeding insects and mites that occur on turfgrass including leafhoppers, chinch bugs (false and 'true'), greenbug aphid, grass thrips, and Banks grass mite. Damage to production sod by any of these is extremely rare.
Cutworms and armyworms chew grass blades. Severe cutting, particularly when prolonged, can cause die-out of grasses.
Insects that suck sap (chinch bugs, aphids) may cause some wilting and a color change is common to greenbug damage grass blades. Leafhoppers, thrips, and Banks grass mite cause scarring injuries to grass blades.
Turfgrass insects common to the region are discussed in more detail in Colorado State University Extension Bulletin 5.560A - Turfgrass Insects in Colorado & Northern New Mexico. It is available for $9.00 from the Cooperative Extension Resource Center (http://www.cerc.colostate.edu/).
There are several insecticides that effectively control insects that feed on the surface of turfgrass. Some (e.g., bifenthrin, lamda-cyhalothrin) have some activity against spider mites.
Product List for Cutworms, Armyworms and other Surface Feeding Insects in Sod Farms:
Insecticide |
Labeled Use Rate |
Reentry, Remarks |
|
Conserve SC |
10-35 fl. oz./A |
4 hour reentry. A microbially derived insecticide (spinosad) with low toxicity |
|
Chipco Sevin 80WSP |
10 lbs /A |
12 hour reentry. Carbamate insecticide (carbaryl) that is moderately water soluble. Breaks down rapidly in high pH soils. |
|
Talstar GC Flowable |
10-20 fl. oz./A |
12 hour reentry. Restricted Use due to toxicity to fish and aquatic organisms. Very low water solubility and remains bound in thatch; does not penetrate to root zone. Good activity against Banks grass mite. |
|
Scimitar GC |
5-10 fl. oz./A |
24 hour reentry. Restricted Use due to toxicity to fish and aquatic organisms. Very low water solubility and remains bound in thatch; does not penetrate to root zone. Some activity against spider mites. |
|
Talstar GC Granular |
50-100 lbs./A |
12 hour reentry. Restricted Use due to toxicity to fish and aquatic organisms. Very low water solubility and remains bound in thatch; does not penetrate to root zone |
|
Deltagard GC 5SC |
8.75-39 fl. oz./A |
12 hour reentry. Restricted Use due to toxicity to fish and aquatic organisms. Very low water solubility and remains bound in thatch; does not penetrate to root zone |
|
DeltaGard GC Granular |
87-131 lbs/A |
12 hour reentry. Restricted Use due to toxicity to fish and aquatic organisms. Very low water solubility and remains bound in thatch; does not penetrate to root zone |
|
Orthene TTO |
1 1/3-3 1/4 lbs/A |
24 hour reentry. Has some systemic activity in the aboveground parts of plants. |
|
Dursban 50W-WSB |
2-4 lb/A |
24 hour reentry. Restricted Use Pesticide. Some activity against spider mites. |
The information herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and that listing of commercial products, necessary to this guide, implies no endorsement by the authors or the Extension Services of Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming or Montana. Criticism of products or equipment not listed is neither implied nor intended. Due to constantly changing labels, laws and regulations, the Extension Services can assume no liability for the suggested use of chemicals contained herein. Pesticides must be applied legally complying with all label directions and precautions on the pesticide container and any supplemental labeling and rules of state and federal pesticide regulatory agencies. State rules and regulations and special pesticide use allowances may vary from state to state: contact your State Department of Agriculture for the rules, regulations and allowances applicable in your state and locality. |
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Categories: Sod, Turf, Insects, Armyworm
Date: 04/12/2004