Cutting edge: Fraise mowing and silicon fertilization

Improved playing conditions and annual bluegrass weevil resistance are the objectives behind two current research projects.

Cutting Edge: Poa annua control and data-informed pest control

Studies on data science-informed turfgrass pest control and glufosinate for poa annua control make up this month's featured research.

Surveying American flea beetles in the southwest

Researchers are monitoring flea beetle populations at golf courses in Utah, Nevada and Arizona
to learn about biology and ecology.

Considering biological pest control

How are turf pests distributed in the canopy?

Researchers looked into the predation habits of insect predators in turfgrass.

Greens, eggs and ham? Invasive feral hogs

Wild pigs are becoming an increasing issue on golf courses across the country.

Can entomopathogenic nematodes work against black cutworms?

Effect of annual bluegrass weevil larval stage on insecticide efficacy

Researchers tested whether four ABW larvicides could be applied later than recommended, potentially allowing for fewer, better-timed applications.

Verdure: The Sting (nematode, that is)

Sting nematodes are known to have the lowest threshold levels of any nematode on turfgrass. But just how low?

Managing lance nematodes in warm-season turfgrass

Lance nematodes are an elusive foe, difficult to diagnose and poorly controlled by current nematicides. A study aimed to refine thresholds and identify ideal extraction method and sampling time.

Managing root-knot nematodes in warm-season turfgrass

A nematologist outlines the life cycle and behavior of these microscopic organisms, a new method for diagnosis, and current tools for control.

Rhodesgrass mealybug in turf

The invasive insect is an emerging pest of both cool- and warm-season greens. Entomologists detail its life cycle, cultural and biological controls, and findings from recent insecticide experiments.

Measuring beneficial predator activity in turf

Spiders, ants and other natural predators of destructive turf pests leave little trace of their presence. To learn more about them and maximize their benefits, researchers got craft-y.

Spring management of annual bluegrass weevil

New findings on the reproductive phenology and feeding patterns of ABW during spring emergence suggest a need for changes to management practices to achieve more effective control.

Turf insects: Looking for bugs in all the right places

To best manage turf pests, superintendents must first don their detective hats. A turf entomologist details the different insect-monitoring techniques and which work for tracking which insects.

Protect trees and shrubs from ‘super pests’

An arborist and entomologist offer a roster of the “super pests” of woody plants, symptoms to watch for, and strategies to keep these threats at bay.

Risk thresholds for lance nematodes in turfgrass

A nematologist takes a close look at the relationship between lance nematodes and turf health, and how nematicides factor in.

Attracting bats to golf courses

In the first-ever study of bat activity on golf courses, a wildlife biologist looked at which golfscape habitats these prolific pest predators prefer, revealing ways superintendents can better support them.

Wildflowers bring in beneficial insects

Incorporating flowering plants on golf courses is a well-known strategy for aiding pollinators, but the practice offers another perk: attracting predatory and parasitic insects for natural pest control.

Jumpin’ jiminy! Jumping worms on golf courses

This invasive pest — whose castings degrade soil — has no approved chemical controls. Here’s a look at preventive measures and the latest research on foiling these ruinous wigglers.