Biologically-based management of white grubs and ants

Golf Course News, Jun 2004

Root-feeding white grubs and cutworms are widespread and destructive insect pests of turfgrasses on golf courses in the cool-season and transitional turfgrass climatic zones. Ants are abundant in turfgrass habitats where they are beneficial by preying upon the eggs and other life stages of pest arthropods. Ants become pests, however, when their nesting and mound-building occur on closely-mowed turf of golf courses.

Researchers at the University of Kentucky are conducting research focusing on factors that determine the abundance and distribution of white grubs, cutworms and mound-building ants on golf courses. Parasitic wasps belonging to three different families were discovered attacking BCW eggs or larvae, causing mortality as high as 27 percent. A baculovirus isolated from BCW cadavers has the potential to provide seasonlong BCW control from a single application. Studies to characterize its activity, host range, residual activity and potential as a bio-insecticide are planned for 2004. Mound activity of Lasius neoniger ants started in late winter, peaked in May and declined steadily thereafter. Nearly all mounds on sand-based greens were located within two meters of the outer edge. Lasius queens were active in late summer with synchronized emergence periods. Planting peonies as a nectar source for spring-active Tiphia wasps significantly increases parasitism rates of white grubs in nearby turf.