2019 GIS Kikuuyugrass
Wendy and Larry both participated in the Kikuyugrass A-Z session at the Golf Industry Show (GIS) this year. In addition, Pat Gross from the USGA, Fernando Varela from Guadalajara Country Club, Pat Gradoville from Palos Verdes Golf Club, and Dr. Marta Pudzianowska from UC Riverside provided some great information. The presentations are available at the links below:
- Kikuyugrass from A to Z - Climate and diseases by Larry Stowell, Ph.D
- Kikuyugrass from A to Z - Nutrition by Larry Stowell, Ph.D
- Kikuyugrass from A to Z - Insects by Wendy Gelernter
- Kikuyugrass from A to Z by Fernando Varela
- Kikuyugrass from A to Z by Pat Gradoville, CGCS
- Kikuyugrass from A to Z by Marta Pudzianowska, Ph.D
- Kikuyugrass from A to Z by Pat Gross
- Kikuyugrass Management Survey 2010
1995 and 1996 Turf Insect Monitoring Studies
Summary: An insect monitoring study was conducted in 1995 and 1996 to build on data generated in 1994 and to enable superintendents to predict the occurrence of key insect pests in advance of significant damage. Weekly black light trap counts of adult insect pests of turf were collected from April 17 - October 17, 1995. In 1996 the study period was lengthened to March 1 - December 1, 1996 to better characterize insect populations. Key results include:
- Black turfgrass ataenius (BTA) continued to be the most damaging pest detected, particularly in the non-desert areas of Southern California. Cool-season greens, tees, fairways and roughs were infested, but insecticide applications were made primarily to greens. The proximity of golf courses to rivers, wooded areas and/or livestock operations seemed to increase the chances of a BTA infestation. Up to five generations of BTA were observed from March through November, with the highest populations occurring in July, August and September. Black light trap data on adult BTA was effectively used to predict the appearance of BTA grubs. During the summer months, grubs were most likely to be found 1 - 14 days after a peak adult population. Grubs were most commonly found at the thatch-soil interface.
- Masked chafer grubs demonstrated different behaviors in Low Desert golf courses vs. inland courses vs. coastal courses. At coastal courses, chafer grubs have not been identified as causing serious problems during the three years of this study. Despite this fact, we have seen high numbers of chafer adults at coastal courses, with one large peak of activity seen very consistently in the last week of June. At inland courses, the adult population dynamics were similar to coastal locations, but the grub stages of the chafer actually caused damage on tees, fairways and roughs (but not on greens) at some inland locations during July and August. In the Low Desert, chafer grubs caused severe damage on greens and tees at many golf courses during July and August, and may have been mis-identified as black turfgrass ataenius grubs in some cases. Two peaks of adult chafer activity were observed in the desert—one in late May/early June, and another in late August/early September. It is likely that a different species of chafer is responsible for each peak.
- Black cutworm and common armyworm adults had 4 - 5 key peaks between June and October, but were constantly present at low levels at all other times. The highest populations occurred in June and in October, with several superintendents reporting the season’s worst worm infestations as late as November. Larval infestations were worst 2 weeks after adult moth peaks. Damage was worst following aerification. 1996 populations were substantially lower than 1995 populations at almost all test locations.
- Overall damage from insects was worst in July, August and September when turf is most stressed and therefore least likely to resist feeding.
Printable version of full report
Principal Investigator: Wendy Gelernter, Ph.D.
Cooperators: Doug Anderson, The Vintage Club; Bruce Duenow, La Jolla Country Club; Bill Gallegos, Los Coyotes Country Club; Mike Gleason, Callaway Golf; Mike Hathaway, Los Angeles Country; Club Jim Husting, Woodbridge Country Club; Mike Kocour, The Springs Club; Eric Lover, Dove Canyon Country Club; David Major, Del Mar Country; Club Ben McBrien, Sea Cliff Country Club; Mark Phillips, Monarch Beach Links; Kurt Rahn, Leisure World, Laguna Hills; Virgil Robinson, PGA West; Mark Schaer, San Luis Rey Downs; Reed Yenny, Mesa Verde Country Club
Sponsors: Superintendents above and PACE Consulting
Evaluation of Mach 2 formulations and Application Strategies for Curative Control of Black Cutworms
Summary: In a replicated field trial on a bentgrass nursery at La Jolla Country Club, La Jolla, CA, the effect on black cutworm populations of formulation type, removal of turfgrass clippings, and post-treatment irrigation was evaluated. Key results include:
- Overall, performance of the SC formulation was better than that of the granular formulation of Mach 2. Regardless of the post-treatment management strategy employed, the SC formulation was as effective as the commercial standard (Talstar). However, the granular formulation of Mach 2 had consistently higher black cutworm populations than either Mach 2 SC or Talstar treated plots.
- Removal of clippings did not have a significant impact on the performance of either formulation of Mach 2, although there was a non-statistical trend in this direction for the granular, but not the SC formulation.
- Post-treatment irrigation had no impact on the performance of either Mach 2 formulation.
Printable version of full report
Principal Investigators: Wendy Gelernter, Ph.D. and Larry J. Stowell, Ph.D.
Cooperator: Bruce Duenow, La Jolla Country Club
Sponsors: Rohm and Haas
