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BACKGROUND: Target‐selective biopesticides are needed to facilitate integrated pest and pollinator management in urban landscapes and gardens. Bacillus thuringiensis galleriae, strain SDS‐502 (Btg), recently registered in the USA and Canada, produces Cry8Da protein active against scarab beetles. We evaluated Btg formulations for managing the Japanese beetle [Popillia japonica Newman (JB)], a polyphagous invasive pest, including residual spray effectiveness for reducing adult feeding on Rosa and Tilia spp., and granular formulations for early‐ or late‐curative control of root‐feeding grubs in turfgrass. We also tested for cross‐order activity to monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus L.) larvae and other non‐target insects. RESULTS: Field‐weathered Btg residues reduced JB feeding on foliage for 3–14 days. Most beetles were still flight‐capable after 24 h confinement with Btg‐treated leaves. Granular Btg failed to control early‐ or late‐instar JB grubs in soils under several turfgrass species at multiple field sites. In three trials, feeding on Btg‐sprayed milkweed resulted in 97–100% mortality of early instar monarchs, with symptoms of B. thuringiensis pathogenesis. Fall armyworms (Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)) fed Btg‐treated grass had reduced body mass, but there were no adverse effects on lady beetle larvae preying on Btg‐sprayed aphids or on the aphids themselves. CONCLUSION: This study supports efficacy of Btg strain SDS‐502 for reducing defoliation by adult JB in urban landscape settings. Granular formulations, however, failed to control JB grubs in turfgrass soils. Btg should not be used in gardens with larval host plants of the monarch butterfly or other non‐pest Lepidoptera, especially species of conservation concern. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turfgrass is an important cropping system covering >16 million hectares in the United States. Synthetic insecticides, which are important tools in managing several key insect pests in these landscapes, have been implicated in the decline of managed and wild pollinators. The public perception linking the use of chemical insecticides to pollinator population declines threatens their future use and our ability to maintain functional and aesthetically acceptable landscapes. Extension and research entomologists from across the United States met in 2016 for the “Summit for Protecting Pollinators in Turf” to review the scientific literature on nontarget impacts of pest management practices on pollinators in turfgrass landscapes, to develop best management practices for protecting these organisms, and to identify knowledge gaps and prioritize future research needs. The group identified that there is a scarcity of detailed research on pollinator health in turf landscapes and has prioritized areas where research was most needed to conserve pollinator populations while balancing the needs for maintaining healthy turfgrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Larvae of the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), have a patchy distribution in soils, which complicates detection and management of this insect pest. Managed turf systems are frequently under pest pressure from fungal pathogens, necessitating frequent fungicide applications. It is possible that certain turfgrass fungicides may have lethal or sublethal adverse effects on eggs and larvae of P. japonica that inhabit managed turf systems. In this study, eggs and first-, second- and third-instar larvae were treated with the fungicides chlorothalonil and propiconazole, and survival was compared with that of untreated controls as well as positive controls treated with the insecticide trichlorfon. RESULTS Chlorothalonil reduced survival of first-instar larvae treated directly and hatched from treated eggs. Propiconazole delayed egg hatch, reduced the proportion of eggs that successfully hatched and reduced survival of first-instar larvae treated directly and hatched from treated eggs. Sublethal doses of the fungicides lowered the activities of certain detoxification enzymes in third-instar grubs. CONCLUSIONS Fungicide applications to turfgrass that coincide with oviposition and egg hatch of white grubs may have sublethal effects. This work is applicable both to high-maintenance turfgrass such as golf courses, where applications of pesticides are more frequent, and to home lawn services, where mixtures of multiple pesticides are commonly used. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel, and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), are common turfgrass pests of golf courses in the southeastern United States. Heat-tolerant bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) cultivars are expanding the range of bentgrass further south, but these cultivars have not been studied for their potential host plant resistance to black cutworm or fall armyworm. The goals of the study were to investigate feeding response of black cutworm and fall armyworm to these newer heat-tolerant creeping bentgrass cultivars, as well as commonly used cultivars of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (Loppers.)]. Choice and no-choice feeding assays and fecundity tests were conducted in the laboratory and greenhouse to evaluate performance and preference of the two insects. When given a choice, neither black cutworm nor fall armyworm showed a preference for the majority of new cultivars tested. There were no differences in leaf area consumption or insect development for either pest in no-choice feeding assays. Black cutworm females preferred laying eggs in bentgrass compared with bermudagrass, but will oviposit onto bermudagrass, suggesting that both turf species are suitable hosts of this pest. The broad host ranges of generalist caterpillar pests of turfgrass hinder the application of host plant resistance in integrated pest management on golf courses. . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel) is a destructive pest of golf course turf. Previous work suggests that Poa pratensis 'Midnight' is resistant to black cutworm, but it is not known if resistance also exists among other Poa species and cultivars. This study compared preference and performance of black cutworm on Poa species and cultivars to a susceptible host plant, creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L. 'Penncross') in laboratory choice feeding assays and rearing experiments. Seven- and 14-day-old larvae were used in performance feeding tests. Larvae reared on all Poa spp. exhibited significantly lower developmental and survival rates than larvae fed creeping bentgrass. Young (7 days old) larvae did not survive to pupation. Although older (14 days old) larvae pupated and eclosed on Poa, larval weight gain was significantly lower than those reared on creeping bentgrass. In choice feeding bioassays, regardless of larval stage, black cutworm preferred creeping bentgrass over all Poa species and cultivars. The results of this research suggest that although Poa species are generally resistant to black cutworm, the resistance varies among cultivars and insect growth stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two field studies were conducted in 2001-2002 and 2003 to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriate application timing of Golden Pest Spray Oil (GPSO) for destruction of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), egg masses in Wisconsin. GPSO is a commercially available, registered pesticide that is predominantly comprised of a soybean-oil base (93%); its primary mode of action is by means of suffocation. Because gypsy moth spends the majority (>75%) of its life cycle in the egg stage (August-April), the potential utility of this product by arborists, city foresters, landscapers, and homeowners is high, especially because GPSO is a United States Environmental Protection Agency registered, nonconventional pesticide that is considered relatively nontoxic. When GPSO was applied at a 1:1 ratio with water, >96% control of gypsy moth egg masses was achieved, regardless of application timing (October, 3 d before egg hatch). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth, developmental rate, and survival of black cutworms, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), were compared on cool-season turfgrasses used commonly on golf courses, including cultivars with or without Neotyppodium spp. (=Acremonium sPP.) endoPhYtes. We also studied feeding preferences of neonates and 5th instars, including possible effects of induction of preference, to clarify patterns of movement of larvae between creeping bentgrass, Agrostis palustris Hudson, putting greens and peripheral areas. Development of black cutworms on 3 diverse cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L., was much poorer than onall other turfgrasses tested. Most larvae that fed on Kentucky bluegrass did not survive to pupation. In contrast, endophyte-free 'Assure' perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., and `SR8300' tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreber, were generally as suitable for cutworms as creeping bentgrass, the standard grass used on putting greens. Larvae reared on endophyte-infected SR8300 tall fescue showed no adverse effects; those fed endophyte-infected Assure perennial ryegrassshowed only small reductions in growth rate compared with larvae reared on the same cultivar without endophyte. In laboratory choice tests, 1-d-old larvae consistently preferred creeping bentgrass over Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue, regardless of which grass they had fed upon during the preceding 24 h. There was evidence for induction of preference for perennial ryegrass over creeping bentgrass in 1 of 2trials. Preferences of 5th instars were more variable, but creeping bentgrass was preferred consistently over Kentucky bluegrass. In paired field plots, 5th instars did not discriminate between creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass but preferred both of those species over Kentucky bluegrass. These results indicate that black cutworm densities could build up in areas of tall fescue or perennial ryegrass surrounding golf course putting greens and tees, and that endophyte infe [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nocturnal activity, feeding behavior, and movement of black cutworms, Agrotts ipsilon (Hufnagel), and responses of larvae to cultural manipulations were evaluated on creeping bentgrass, Agrostis palustris Hudson, golf putting greens. Larvae were active throughout most of thenight with the greatest activity between midnight and -1 h before sunrise. Small larvae (3rd and 4th instars) were active on the surface of putting greens, whereas large larvae (5th and 6th instars) fed mainly from burrows or tunnels in the putting green surface. Larval tracks in the dew averaged 8.8 +/- 0.7 m, indicating that A. ipsilon can move considerable distances on putting greens in a single night. Many larval tracks originated from the peripheral area, suggesting that some larvae found on putting greens originate from higher-mowed turf surrounding the green. Contrary to the common belief of golf course superintendents, A. ipsilon larvae were not attracted to aerified over nonaerified turf. However, most larvae occupied aerification holes as burrows when such holes were available. Topdressing with 100% silica sand or a silica sand/peat moss mix did not affect survival of cutworms in creeping bentgrass turf cores. Nevertheless, larvae tended to avoid putting green surfaces topdressed with sand. Manipulating the timing of topdressing may be one method of reducing cutworm populations on putting greens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oviposition and egg location of black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), removal of eggs by mowing, and survival of eggs on grass clippings were evaluated on a creeping bentgrass, Agrostis palustris Hudson, golf putting green. Caged moths laid similar numbers of eggs on bentgrass maintained at cutting heights of 3.2, 4.8, or 13.0 mm. Nearlyall eggs were laid singly on the tips of grass blades. In 3 trials, mowing of plots 48 h after oviposition removed an estimated 75--91% of the eggs at the 3.2-mm cutting height, and 81--84% at the 4.8-mm cutting height. In another test, 97% of marked eggs on grass blades were recovered on clippings in the mowing basket. Five to 10% of the eggs were dislodged from grass blades by the mower roller. Survival of eggs on grass clippings harvested with the greens mower was as high as90% in the laboratory and 50% in the field. This study suggests thatdaily mowing removes most black cutworm eggs from golf putting greens, implying that larger cutworms found on greens may originate from surrounding, high-mowed turf. Disposal of clippings away from greens may be important for reducing reinfestations by crawling larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sex pheromone of the scarab beetle, Phyllophaga anxia, is a blend of the methyl esters of two amino acids, L-valine and L-isoleucine. A field trapping study was conducted, deploying different blends of the two compounds at 59 locations in the United States and Canada. More than 57,000 males of 61 Phyllophaga species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) were captured and identified. Three major findings included: (1) widespread use of the two compounds [of the 147 Phyllophaga (sensu stricto) species found in the United States and Canada, males of nearly 40% were captured]; (2) in most species intraspecific male response to the pheromone blends was stable between years and over geography; and (3) an unusual pheromone polymorphism was described from P. anxia. Populations at some locations were captured with L-valine methyl ester alone, whereas populations at other locations were captured with L-isoleucine methyl ester alone. At additional locations, the L-valine methyl ester-responding populations and the L-isoleucine methyl ester-responding populations were both present, producing a bimodal capture curve. In southeastern Massachusetts and in Rhode Island, in the United States, P. anxia males were captured with blends of L-valine methyl ester and L-isoleucine methyl ester.