Progress 11/01/05 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: To support the goals and objectives of this project, we conducted studies to better understand the ecology of the annual bluegrass weevil in golf course landscapes. This insect is a damaging pest of high-maintenance turf in the greater northeast U.S. Our overall approach was to investigate what goes on at the insect's overwintering sites away from low-mown turf, what goes on at the developmental sites on susceptible playing surfaces, the relationship between those diverging habitats, and how that information could be exploited to improve integrated pest management. ACTIVITIES conducted during this project included: (1) collection and analysis of data used to associated insect life-stages with ecological conditions (2) validation of a degree-day model that was developed to predict the timing of insect developmental stages, (3) conducting studies on laboratory rearing, (4) preparing manuscripts for publication, (5) mentoring of both MS and Ph.D. graduate students, and (6) extension education. PARTICIPANTS: Daniel C. Peck, Principal Investigator; coordinated all activities related to this project. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: Collaborating scientists and institutions affiliated with USDA-CSREES Multistate project NE-1025; United States Golf Association; New York State Turfgrass Association; Cornell Cooperative Extension, Westchester Co. COLLABORATORS AND CONTACTS: Frank Rossi, Cornell University; Jennifer Thaler, Cornell University; Mathew Petersen, Cornell University. TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Masanori Seto, Ph.D. candidate, Cornell University; Akiko Seto, Technician, Cornell University; Deborah Marvin, Technician, Cornell University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences included (1) golf course superintendents, (2) extension agents, (3) representatives of commercial insecticide companies, (4) pest management practitioners, (5) turfgrass entomologists and (5) soil insect and landscape ecologists. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Our outputs have led to an improved understanding of the association between the annual bluegrass weevil and the golf course landscape in three major ways: (1) revealing two new approaches for suppressing adult populations: manipulating the overwintering habitat and intercepting adults as they reinvade susceptible turfgrass in the spring, (2) articulating a new conceptual model of overwintering site selection and the flux between overwintering and developmental habitats, and (3) refining a degree-day model for predicting when the life stages of the insects are active, and thereby when to scout, when to assess thresholds and when to target control tactics. All three areas are pertinent to promoting best integrated pest management practices and in reducing the amount of insecticidal active ingredient used in the control of insect pests. EVENTS conducted during this project included transmitting recent information through 30 extension programs. Four presentations were made during this final reporting year: (1) Peck, D.C., Huff, D., Olmstead, D., Rossi, F., Seto, A., and M. Seto. Variation in the incidence, performance and impact of annual bluegrass weevil (Listronotus maculicollis) adults across greens-type turf grasses. Entomological Society of America National Conference, Harrisburg, PA, March 18-21, 2011, (2) Peck, D.C. Research update, National Turfgrass Entomology Workshop, Boise, ID, July 27-28, 2011, (3) Interview in: Understanding annual bluegrass weevils, Golf Course Industry, May 12, 2011, (4) Peck, D.C, Diaz-Lyke, M., and M. Seto, Understanding Annual Bluegrass Weevils, USGA Green Section Record, April 15, 2011 pp. 1-4.
Publications
- Peck, D. C., M. D. Diaz-Lyke, and M. Seto. 2011. Understanding Annual Bluegrass Weevils. USGA Green Section Record 49(15): 1-4.
|
Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: To support the goals and objectives of this project, we continued studies to better understand the ecology of the annual bluegrass weevil in golf course landscapes. This insect is a damaging pest of high-maintenance turf in the greater northeast U.S. Our overall approach is to investigate what goes on at the insect's overwintering sites away from low-mown turf, what goes on at the developmental sites on susceptible playing surfaces, the relationship between those diverging habitats, and how that information can be exploited to improve integrated pest management. ACTIVITIES conducted during this activity period included: (1) further analysis of data collected to validate the robustness of a degree-day model that was developed to predict the timing of insect developmental stages, (2) advancement of two manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals, (3) mentoring of a Ph.D. graduate student, and (4) extension education. EVENTS conducted during this activity period included the transmission of recent information through eight extension/scientific programs: (1) Seto, M and D.C. Peck, Spatial analysis of the association between annual bluegrass weevil and susceptible golf course turf, Entomological Society of America National Conference, Indianapolis, IN, December 2009. (2) Peck, D.C., Insect pests of turfgrass: natural history and management, Cornell Turfgrass Short Course, Ithaca, NY, December, 2009. (3) Peck, D.C., Insect pests of turfgrass: natural history and management, Workshop, Cornell Cooperative Extension Monroe Co., Rochester, NY, January 2010. (4) Peck, D.C., Insect pests of turfgrass: natural history and management, Nassau-Suffolk Landscape Gardeners Association, Bayshore, NY, February 2010. (5) Peck, D.P. Cornell research report, Annual Meeting Project NE-1025, Providence, NY, March 2010. (6) Peck, D.C. Nailing the culprit: diagnosis of insect pests in turf, New England Regional Turfgrass Conference and Show, Providence, RI, March 2010. (7) Peck, D.C. Cornell research update, National Turfgrass Entomology Workshop, Tucson, AZ, April 2010. (8) Peck, D.C., Turf insect management update, NY Botanical Garden Field Day, Bronx, NY, September 2010. PARTICIPANTS: INDIVIDUALS: Daniel C. Peck, Principal Investigator; coordinated all activities related to this project. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: Collaborating scientists and institutions affiliated with USDA-CSREES Multistate project NE-1025; United States Golf Association; New York State Turfgrass Association; Cornell Cooperative Extension, Westchester Co. COLLABORATORS AND CONTACTS: Frank Rossi, Cornell University; Jennifer Thaler, Cornell University; Mathew Petersen, Cornell University. TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Masanori Seto, Ph.D. candidate, Cornell University; Akiko Seto, Technician, Cornell University; Daniel Olmstead, Research Support Specialist, Cornell University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include (1) golf course superintendents, (2) extension agents, (3) representatives of commercial insecticide companies, (4) pest management practitioners, (5) turfgrass entomologists and (5) soil insect and landscape ecologists. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Our outputs have led to an improved understanding of the association between the annual bluegrass weevil and the golf course landscape in three major ways: (1) revealing two new approaches for suppressing adult populations: manipulating the overwintering habitat and intercepting adults as they reinvade susceptible turfgrass in the spring, (2) articulating a new conceptual model of overwintering site selection and the flux between overwintering and developmental habitats, and (3) refining a degree-day model for predicting when the life stages of the insects are active, and thereby when to scout, when to assess thresholds and when to target control tactics. All three areas are pertinent to promoting best integrated pest management practices and in reducing the amount of insecticidal active ingredient used in the control of insect pests. Among the CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE are (1) novel information for publication in three peer-reviewed scientific journals that are currently in preparation, (2) new methods for assessing insect population development, (3) improved understanding of the impact of adult weevil feeding on host plant health. One main CHANGE IN ACTION is a better focus of applied research studies with respect to an understanding of the abundance and incidence of the pest in space and time. Among the CHANGES IN CONDITIONS are (1) incorporation of knowledge into written, oral and web-based extension and educational materials, including Cornell's Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Turfgrass, (2) training of a Ph.D. level scientist in the ecology and management of insect pests in turfgrass, and (3) more accurate information on the spatial and temporal targeting of intervention tactics for pest management on golf courses.
Publications
- Peck, D.C., M.D. Diaz-Lyke and M. Seto. 2010. Overwintering of the annual bluegrass weevil in golf course landscapes. USGA Turf and Environmental Research Online, 9: 1-9.
|
Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: To support the goals and objectives of this project, we continued studies to better understand the ecology of the annual bluegrass weevil in golf course landscapes. Our overall approach is to investigate what goes on at the overwintering sites away from low-mown turf, what goes on at the developmental sites on susceptible playing surfaces, the relationship between those diverging habitats, and how that information can be exploited to improve integrated pest management. ACTIVITIES conducted during this activity period included: (1) further analyzed data collected over three years and three sites to construct a degree-day model to predict the timing of insect developmental stages, (2) collected and analyzed a second year of population and climate data from various sites in the Northeast to validate robustness of a degree-day model for predicting insect phenology, (3) conducted studies on laboratory rearing, (4) conducted studies on host plant resistance, (5) advanced manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and (6) mentored a Ph.D. graduate student. EVENTS conducted during this activity period included transmitting recent information through eight extension/scientific programs: (1) Peck, D.C., Research update: annual bluegrass weevil management, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester Co., Managing Golf Courses for Today's Consumer and Tomorrow's Environment, Valhalla, NY, October 2008. (2) Seto, M., M.D. Diaz and D.C. Peck, Degree-day model to predict the phenology of the annual bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in golf course landscapes, Entomological Society of America national meeting, Reno, NV, November 2008. (3) Peck, D.C., Practical diagnosis of turf insect pests, Empire State Green Industry Show, Rochester, NY, January 2009. (4) Seto, M. and D.C. Peck, Assessing the environmental effects on annual bluegrass weevil, Empire State Green Industry Show, Rochester, NY, January 2009. (5) Peck, D.C., Insect pests of turfgrass: natural history and management, Workshop, Cornell Cooperative Extension Monroe Co., Rochester, NY, February 2009. (6) Seto, M. and D.C. Peck, Spatiotemporal analysis of annual bluegrass weevil on golf course fairways, Symposium: Recent advances in turfgrass insect management in the Northeast, Eastern Branch meeting, Entomological Society of America, Harrisburg, PA, March 2009. (7) Peck, D.C., Field tour, Cornell Turfgrass Working Group, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, June 2009. (8) Peck, D.C., Field tour, Cornell Turfgrass Working Group, Bluegrass Lane, Ithaca, NY, July 2009. PARTICIPANTS: INDIVIDUALS: Daniel C. Peck, Principal Investigator; coordinated all activities related to this project. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: Collaborating scientists and institutions affiliated with USDA-CSREES Multistate project NE-1025; United States Golf Association; New York State Turfgrass Association; Central New York Golf Course Superintendents Association; Cornell Cooperative Extension, Westchester Co. COLLABORATORS AND CONTACTS: Frank Rossi, Cornell University; Jennifer Thaler, Cornell University. TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Masanori Seto, Ph.D. candidate, Cornell University; Akiko Seto, temporary support technician, Cornell University; Daniel Olmstead, Research Support Specialist, Cornell University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include (1) golf course superintendents, (2) extension agents, (3) representatives of commercial insecticide companies, (4) pest management practitioners, (5) turfgrass entomologists and (5) soil insect ecologists. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Our outputs are leading to an improved understanding of the association between the annual bluegrass weevil and the golf course landscape in three major ways: (1) revealing two new approaches for suppressing adult populations: manipulating the overwintering habitat and intercepting adults as they reinvade susceptible turfgrass in the spring, (2) articulating a new conceptual model of overwintering site selection and the flux between overwintering and developmental habitats, and (3) refining a degree-day model for predicting when the life stages of the insects are active, and thereby when to scout, when to assess thresholds and when to target control tactics. All three areas are pertinent to promoting best integrated pest management practices and in reducing the amount of insecticidal active ingredient used in the control of insect pests. Among the CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE are (1) novel information for publication in two peer-reviewed scientific journals that are currently in preparation, (2) preliminary protocols for use of an artificial diet to maintain the insect under laboratory conditions, (3) new understanding of the impact of adult weevil feeding on host plant health. One main CHANGE IN ACTION is a better focus of applied research studies with respect to an understanding of the abundance and incidence of the pest in space and time. Among the CHANGES IN CONDITIONS are (1) incorporation of knowledge into written, oral and web-based extension and educational materials, including Cornell's Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Turfgrass, (2) training of a Ph.D. level scientist in the ecology and management of insect pests in turfgrass, and (3) more accurate information on the spatial and temporal targeting of intervention tactics for pest management on golf courses.
Publications
- Peck, D.C., M. Seto and D. Olmstead. 2008. Searching for annual bluegrass weevil resistant Poa annua. Cornell University Turfgrass Times 19(4): 4 pp.
|
Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: To support the goals and objectives of this project, we continued studies to better understand the ecology of the annual bluegrass weevil in golf course landscapes. Our overall approach is to describe what goes on at the overwintering sites away from low-mown turf, what goes on at the developmental sites on susceptible playing surfaces, what is the relationship between those diverging habitats, and how can that information can be exploited to improve integrated pest management. ACTIVITIES conducted during this activity period included: (1) further analyzing data from three years and three sites to assess how adult sex ratio, insect abundance and spatial distribution varies with management habitat, and to construct a degree-day model to predict the timing of insect developmental stages, (2) conducting a validation study across five sites to test the robustness of a degree-day model for predicting insect phenology, (3) conducting studies on laboratory rearing, (4) writing manuscripts for publication, and (5) mentoring a Ph.D. graduate student. EVENTS conducted during this activity period included transmitting recent information through ten extension/scientific programs: (1) Seto, M., M.D. Diaz and D.C. Peck, Relationship between damage prevalence and population distribution of the annual bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), on golf course habitats, Entomological Society of America national conference, San Diego, CA, December 2007; (2) Peck, D.C., Challenges and perspectives for managing the annual bluegrass weevil, Maryland Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show, College Park, MD, January 2008; (3) Peck, D.C., Nailing the culprit: Diagnosis of insect pest problems in turfgrass, Maryland Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show, College Park, MD, January 2008; (4) Peck, D.C., Annual bluegrass weevil update: Challenges and perspectives for management, Southeast Regional Conference, New York State Turfgrass Association, Suffern, NY, February 2008; (5) Seto, M. and D.C. Peck, Habitat exploitation by the annual bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in golf course turf: Interpreting the link between damage prevalence and population distribution, Department of Entomology, NYSAES, Cornell University, Geneva, NY, March 2008; (6) Peck, D.C., Nailing the culprit: Diagnosis of insect pest problems in turfgrass, Michigan Green Industry Association, Novi, MI, March 2008; (7) Peck, D.C., Recent advances in control of the annual bluegrass weevil, Central NY GCSA, Rome, NY, May 2008; (8) Peck, D.C., Research update: Annual bluegrass weevil update, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Westchester Co., Valhalla, NY, October 2008; (9) Seto, M., M.D. Diaz and D.C. Peck, Degree-day model to predict the phenology of the annual bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in golf course landscapes, Entomological Society of America national conference, Reno, NV, November 2008; and (10) Peck, D.C., Understanding the annual bluegrass weevil in the golf course landscape, Penn State Golf Turf Conference, November 2008. PARTICIPANTS: INDIVIDUALS: Daniel C. Peck, Principal Investigator; coordinated all activities related to this project. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: Collaborating scientists and institutions affiliated with regional Hatch project NE-1025; United States Golf Association; New York State Turfgrass Association; Central New York Golf Course Superintendents Association; Cornell Cooperative Extension, Westchester Co. COLLABORATORS AND CONTACTS: Frank Rossi, Cornell University; Jennifer Thaler, Cornell University. TRAINING OR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Maria Derval Diaz, M.Sc. candidate, Cornell University; Masanori Seto, Ph.D. candidate, Cornell University; Akiko Seto, temporary support technician, Cornell University; Ana Corichi, temporary support technician, Cornell University; Erin Jennings, temporary support technician, Cornell University; Daniel Olmstead, Research Support Specialist, Cornell University. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include (1) golf course superintendents, (2) extension agents, (3) representatives of commercial insecticide companies, (4) pest management practitioners, and (5) turfgrass entomologists and other research scientists. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Our outputs are leading to an improved understanding of the association between the annual bluegrass weevil and the golf course landscape in three major ways: (1) revealing two new approaches for suppressing adult populations: manipulating the overwintering habitat and intercepting adults as they reinvade susceptible turfgrass in the spring, (2) articulating a new conceptual model of overwintering site selection and the flux between overwintering and developmental habitats, and (3) refining a degree-day model for predicting when the life stages of the insects are active, and thereby when to scout, when to assess thresholds and when to target control tactics. All three areas are pertinent to promoting best integrated pest management practices and in reducing the amount of insecticidal active ingredient used in the control of insect pests. Among the CHANGES IN KNOWLEDGE are (1) novel information for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journals in preparation and (2) preliminary protocols for use of an artificial diet to maintain the insect under laboratory conditions. One main CHANGE IN ACTION is a better focus of applied research studies with respect to an understanding of the abundance and incidence of the pest in space and time. Among the CHANGES IN CONDITIONS are (1) incorporation of knowledge into written, oral and web-based extension and educational materials, including Cornell's Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Turfgrass, (2) training of a Ph.D. level scientist in the management of insect pests in turfgrass, and (3) more accurate information on the spatial and temporal targeting of intervention tactics for insect pest management on golf courses.
Publications
- Diaz, M.D. and D.C. Peck. 2007. Overwintering of annual bluegrass weevils, Listronotus maculicollis (Dietz) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in the golf course landscape. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 125:259-268.
- Cowles, R.S., A. Koppenhofer, B. McGraw, S.R. Alm, D. Ramoutar, D.C. Peck, P. Vittum, P. Heller and S. Swier. 2008. Insights into managing annual bluegrass weevils. Golf Course Management 76(8): 86-92.
- Cowles, R.S., A. Koppenhofer, B. McGraw, S.R. Alm, D. Ramoutar, D.C. Peck, P. Vittum, P. Heller and S. Swier. 2008. Insights into managing annual bluegrass weevils. USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online 7(15): 1-11.
- Diaz, M.D., M. Seto and D.C. Peck. 2008. Patterns of variation in the seasonal dynamics of Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations on golf course turf. Environmental Entomology, in press.
|
Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: To support the goals and objectives of this project, we continued studies to elucidate a better understanding of annual bluegrass weevil in the golf course landscape. Our overall approach is to answer what goes on at the overwintering sites away from low-mown turf, what goes on at the developmental sites on susceptible playing surfaces, what is the relationship between those diverging habitats, and how can that information can be exploited to improve integrated pest management? ACTIVITIES conducted during this activity period included: (1) analyzing a third year of population data in terms of shape of the fluctuation curves, number of generations, generation time, divergence in male and female adult population curves, and variation across three sites in order to make comparisons with the same data obtained in the first and second years, (2) analyzing data from three years and three sites to assess how adult sex ratio, insect abundance and spatial distribution varies with
management habitat, i.e. across rough, intermediate and fairway habitats, (3) mentoring a M.Sc. graduate student, and (4) mentoring a Ph.D. graduate student. EVENTS conducted during this activity period included transmitting recent information through eight extension programs: (1) Peck, D.C. 2006. Understanding and combating the annual bluegrass weevil. Empire State Green Industry Show, Rochester, NY. 11/16/06, (2) Seto, M., M.D. Diaz & D.C. Peck. 2006. Variation in population parameters of the annual bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), with respect to golf course habitats. Entomological Society of America national conference, Indianapolis, IN. 12/11/06, (3) Olmstead & D.C. Peck. 2007. Update on the European crane fly and Hyperodes weevil. Finger Lakes Association of Golf Course Superintendents, Education Day. 03/07/07, (4) Peck, D.C. 2007. Nailing the culprit: diagnosis of insect pest problems in turfgrass. Western Pennsylvania Turf Conference,
Pennsylvania Turfgrass Association, Pittsburgh, PA. 03/07/07, (5) Peck, D.C. 2007. Ecology and management of the annual bluegrass weevil in golf course landscapes. Western Pennsylvania Turf Conference, Pennsylvania Turfgrass Association, Pittsburgh, PA. 03/07/07, (6) Peck, D.C. 2007. Managing the annual bluegrass weevil: lessons from the past, challenges of the present and visions for the future. Adirondacks Regional Conference, NYS Turfgrass Association, Lake Placid, NY. 03/27/07, (7) Peck, D.C. 2007. C.S.I. Turf: Identifying the insect culprits behind lawn problems. Master Gardener Volunteer Conference, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 07/18/07, and (8) Peck, D.C. Annual bluegrass weevil and European crane fly update. Empire State Green Industry Show, Rochester, NY. 11/15/2007. PRODUCTS produced during this activity period included (1) improved protocols for rearing annual bluegrass weevil in the laboratory and greenhouse in support of studies on host plant resistance, (2) M.Sc.
student graduated from the Field of Entomology, Cornell University, and (3) electronic factsheet published and made available online in both English and Spanish language.
PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Daniel C. Peck,Principal Investigator; coordinated all activities related to this project. Partner Organizations: Collaborating scientists and institutions affiliated with regional Hatch project NE-1025. Collaborators and contacts: Daniel Olmstead, Research Support Specialist, Cornell University. Training or professional development: Maria Derval Diaz, M.Sc. candidate, Cornell University; Masanori Seto. Ph.D. candidate, Cornell University.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include (1) golf course superintendents, (2) extension agents, (3) representatives of commercial insecticide companies, and (4) turfgrass entomologists and other research scientists.
Impacts
Our outputs have led have an improved understanding of the association between the annual bluegrass weevil and the golf course landscape in three major ways: (1) revealing two new approaches for suppressing adult populations: manipulating the overwintering habitat and intercepting adults as they reinvade susceptible turfgrass in the spring, (2) articulating a new conceptual model of overwintering site selection and the flux between overwintering and developmental habitats, and (3) developing a preliminary model showing potential for predicting when the life stages of the insects are active, and thereby when to scout, when to assess thresholds and when to target control tactics. All three areas are pertinent to promoting best integrated pest management practices and in reducing the amount insecticidal active ingredient used in the control of annual bluegrass weevil.
Publications
- Diaz, M.D.C. 2006. Population dynamics, phenology and overwintering behavior of the annual bluegrass weevil, Listronotus maculicollis Dietz (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in the golf course landscape. M.S. Thesis, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. 92 pp.
- Peck, D.C. 2007. Interpreting and forecasting phenology of the annual bluegrass weevil in golf course landscapes. 2006 USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Summary. p. 14.
- Peck, D.C. & M.D. Diaz. 2007. Do not fear the weevil: Managing the annual bluegrass weevil. Cornell University Turfgrass Times. 18(1), 4 pp.
- Peck, D.C., M.D. Diaz & M. Seto. 2007. Annual bluegrass weevil (also known as the Hyperodes weevil), Listronotus maculicollis Dietz. Electronic factsheet (English and Spanish versions), NYS IPM Program Fact Sheet Series (www.nysipm.cornell.edu/factsheets/turf-grass/default.asp).
|
Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Studies were conducted to fill knowledge gaps in our understanding or overwintering and reproductive biology, population biology and ecology, and prediction models. With respect to overwintering and reproductive biology, data were collected and analyzed from distribution surveys to assess preferences with respect to distance from the fairway and surface microhabitat. In addition, a choice study was conducted to determine microhabitat preferences, and a no-choice study was conducted to assess overwintering success under differing scenarios. Our results showed that overwintering adults tend to settle along the tree line adjacent to the fairway. They prefer to overwinter in rough-mown grass and a combination of pine and deciduous litter over pine litter and fairway-mown grass. They can overwinter up to 60 m from the edge of fairway and up to 10 m into the woods. Little to no overwintering occurs on the fairway, intermediate rough or edge of the rough. This understanding
will bolster opportunities to manage this pest by manipulating conditions in its overwintering habitat. Scouting early spring adults populations should focus on areas adjacent to defined tree lines, not white pine litter. With respect to population biology and ecology, a third year of detailed data were collected from two study sites to describe the patterns of variation in population fluctuations and phenology. Data were fully analyzed from the first two years. Those data confirmed five instars and confirmed that these protocols reveal variation in terms of number of generations, insect load, population synchrony and timing. Phenograms were constructed to visualize population development. Overall, results revealed that seasonal fluctuations and phenology vary more between years than between sites, that there is no divergence in male and female population curves, and that the size of the last generation greatly reduced. Initial analyses of variation across habitat show that compared
to the fairway-mown grass, insect load on rough-mown grass is much lower and the sex ratio is male-skewed. Evidence was also obtained for early season directional movement of adults. This information has led to a new conceptual model of flux between overwintering and developmental habitats. With respect to prediction models, population data from two years were fully analyzed. Overall, degree-day models are better than Julian date at predicting occurrence of the first generation. Given low variation, using the most convenient base temperature model may be feasible. Large larvae (instars 4-5) may be a better predictor than callow adults for predicting maturation of the first generation. Predictive models therefore hold promise for improving pest management. Analyses are underway to strengthen this model with data from the third season of population studies.
Impacts
We have an improved understanding of the association between the annual bluegrass weevil and the golf course landscape. This has revealed two new approaches for suppressing adult populations: manipulating the overwintering habitat and intercepting adults as they reinvade susceptible turfgrass in the spring. A preliminary model shows potential for predicting when the life stages of the insects are active, and thereby when to scout, when to assess thresholds and when to target control tactics. This will improve integrated best management and lead to reduced insecticide applications.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|