6.1 General Guidelines

The most effective and efficient pest control programs should explicitly contemplate (1) diagnosis - correct identification of the insect(s) involved (i.e. who or what are the culprits behind the problem), (2) decision-making - some non-arbitrary process to decide if control is necessary (i.e. whether the situation requires a response), and (3) intervention - selecting, targeting and integrating the most appropriate control tactics (i.e. when and where to apply a control in concert with other management techniques). Navigating through these steps to improved pest management also depends on how well we understand natural history, i.e. the association among the insects, the grasses they feed on, and the overall turfgrass habitat. If diagnosis, decision-making and intervention are the pillars supporting IPM, then natural history is the foundation for the entire structure.

Most of the insect pests of turfgrass conduct some stage of their life underground. This poses challenges for their management because of how difficult it is to monitor, interpret and manipulate interactions that are being played out below the soil surface. Compared to above-ground foliar feeding insects, below-ground root feeding insects are harder to sample and the products used to control them are harder to accurately deliver.

Another challenge for insect pest management is the number of exotic pests that affect turfgrass. Unintentionally introduced to the Northeast, these species have arrived without the natural enemies, competitors or other factors that might have kept in check the size of populations in their native regions. Therefore they have a great capacity to outbreak and cause highly damaging infestations. Finally, pest management in turf is also challenging because there are few non-chemical control options that offer real alternatives, and because the availability of chemical options is continually changing due to phase-outs, restrictions or market-driven alterations.

In this section on insect management we give a general overview of six major insect pest complexes that affect turfgrass systems in NY State such as home lawns, recreational areas, athletic fields, golf courses and sod farms. We will highlight aspects of their biology, ecology and behavior that are important for understanding their impact as pests and in choosing and applying the most appropriate control tactics. Because this is only a general summary, we include links to additional information on certain topics.