Justin C. Ruiz, CGCS

Integrated Plant ManagementPractical IPM on the Golf Course

Being Creative

Integrated Plant ManagementDefined

“IPM is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and

environmental risks.”Reference: http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/ndipm/ipmdefinition.htm

Presentation Outline

• Growing Degree Day Calculation• Billbug Control

– Degree Day Model– Scouting– Chemical Application

• Cutworm Control– Degree Day Model– Scouting– Chemical Application

Presentation Outline

• Masked Chafer– Degree Day Model– Scouting– Chemical Application

Growing Degree Day

“The number of degrees the average temperature is above a baseline temperature. Used to predict insect and plant development.”

Upper and Lower Threshold Temperature

“The high and low temperature at which insect/plant development occurs.”

Calculating Growing Degree Days (GDD)

Tmax +TminGDD = ____

2 -Tbase

Tmax = Daily High

Tmin = Daily Low

Tbase = 50 degrees

•Sine Wave Method is more accurate. You can find calculators on the web.

Integrated Plant ManagementBillbug Control

Bluegrass Billbug Adult

www.biosurvey.ou.edu/okwild/misc/bgbill.html

Billbug Control• Degree Day Model

Degree Day Model• Adults become active

280-352 GDD• Last effective adult contact control

560-624 GDD• Larvae control is effective

925-1035 GDD• Significant visual damage occurs

1330-1485 GDDStarting March 1st

Billbug Damage

Billbug Control• Degree Day Model• Scouting/Trapping

Billbug Scouting

• Using pitfall traps• Observing cart paths and greens• Clippings in mower buckets

Billbug Trap DataBiilbug Trapping vs. GDD

0

200

400

600

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1000

1200

Mar

chApr

ilM

ayJu

ne

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5

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25

GDD

Billbugs

Chlorpyrifos Application made April 24th

Chemical Application

• 4/24/08 Chlorpyrifos (1oz/M)– Ring around perimeter of golf course

• Target adult billbugs• GDD aprox. 502

• 5/12/08 Clothianidin (12.8oz/A)– All short cut and South facing slopes

in rough• Target billbug larvae• GDD aprox. 799*

* Application made a few days early in preparation for a tournament

When to Spray What

• Adult Control • Contact insecticide (350-600GDD)

» Compare with trap data

• Larvae Control• Systemic insecticide (925-1035GDD)

Biological Control

• Entomopathogenic Nematodes – Steinernema carpocapsae

• Endophyte enhanced grasses

Infecting Nematodes

www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/pests/e1229w.htm

www.bsu.edu/classes/ruch/msa/blackwell.html

Endophyte Mycelium

Integrated Plant Management• Scouting/Trapping• Cutworm Control• Degree Day Model

Cutworms March 25th

Cutworm Scouting

• Light traps• Walking greens• Pitfall traps???• Soap Flush

Cutworm Control• Degree Day Model

– Lower Threshold is 50 degrees– Upper Threshold is 86 degrees

Degree Day Model• Adults Migrate

Mid March to early April • Eggs hatch after peak flight

90 GDD• Larvae control is effective

200-300 GDD• Significant visual damage occurs

300-1000 GDD

Degree Day Model Cont.• Second Generation Peak Flight

900-1100 GDD• Third Generation Peak Flight

1900-2100 GDDThis is our observation at our

property

Cutworm Damage

Cutworm Trap DataCutworm Trapping vs. GDD

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Mar

chApr

ilM

ayJu

ne

0

1

2

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4

5

6

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9

GDD

Cutworms

Chlorpyrifos Application made April 24th

Chemical Application

• Systemic application (Accelepryn, etc.)

– All green surrounds and mapped rough areas.• Target cutworm larvae• GDD aprox. 250-275 GDD*

* Peak flight we recorded on our property

Chemical Application Cont.

• Contact Insecticide– Label rate for Cutworm larvae

– Apply to area that has visible damage over your threshold.

– Not really a GDD timed application.

Biological Control

• Entomopathogenic Nematodes – Steinernema carpocapsae

• Endophytic grasses• Bacterium

– Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki

Infecting Nematodes

www.bsu.edu/classes/ruch/msa/blackwell.html

Endophyte Mycelium

www.inchem.org

Integrated Plant Management• Scouting/Trapping• Masked Chafer Control• Degree Day Model

WWW.KSDA.GOV

Masked Chafer Scouting

• Light traps• Javalina damage

Masked Chafer Control• Degree Day Model• Day length may be more

important than temperature??

Masked Chafer Control• Degree Day Model

– Lower Threshold is 50 degrees– Upper Threshold is 75 degrees

Degree Day Model• Peak Flight prediction

1375-1575 GDD (www.turffiles.ncsu.edu) • First Instar Development

260-340 GDD from peak flight (my observation)

• Temperature Threshold

50 deg. Base and 75 deg. Max.One generation per year here.

Chemical Application

• Systemic at label rate (Accelepryn, Arena etc.)

– All mapped areas, mostly south facing.• Target White grub• GDD 1375-1575 GDD*

* At peak flight observation

Chemical Application Cont.

• Contact Insecticide– Label rate for Masked Chafer Grub

– Apply to area that has visible damage over your threshold.

– Not really a GDD timed application.– Very hard to control since contact is needed

and thatch can capture most of the chemical.

Biological Control

• Entomopathogenic Nematodes – Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

• Endophytic grasses• Mach 2 (halofenozide)

– Interrupts molting process

• Parasitic Wasps– Typhia Wasp

http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/field/white_grub4a.gif

Parasitic Wasp Feeding on White Grub

Nice Links

• www.uspest.org

• www.turfhugger.com

• www.beneficialinsectco.com

Any Questions?

Justin C. Ruiz, CGCS928-472-1456

justinr@therimgolfclub.orgwww.therimgolfclub.blogspot.com