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Joseph F. Boggs, Ohio State University Extension, Hamilton County/Southwest District; Curtis E. Young, David J. Shetlar, James A. Chatfield, Erik A. Draper, Pamela J. Bennett, Gary Y. Gao, |
Turf Pests
White grub populations were generally down this year, particularly in central and northern Ohio. It was speculated that drought conditions in those areas of the state during July and early August, the time of the year when adults lay their eggs, may have been severe enough to suppress egg development and/or kill first instar larvae.
As with the 1998, 1999, and 2000 seasons, bluegrass billbug (Sphenophorus parvulus) was commonly found throughout Ohio (6,7, 8), and areas of localized damage were observed. Although there were a few cases of hairy chinch bugs (Blissus leucopterus hirtus) causing injury to home lawns in southwestern Ohio, populations were generally down this season across the state. Most Ohio golf courses experienced two generations of black cutworms (Agrotis ipsilon), but the black turfgrass ataenius (Ataenius spretulus) was uncommon.
A localized infestation of an unusual turfgrass pest, grass thrips (Anaphothrips obscurus), was observed in early August in southwestern Ohio. Thrips have unusual mouthparts, termed "rasping-sucking." They use their mouthparts to rasp the plant tissue and then they suck the exuding sap. They can also use their mouthparts to deliver a painful bite to people. Their bite may cause the afflicted to believe they are being bitten by fleas or lice. This practice gives the grass thrips another common name oat lice.
Grass thrips are tiny black or yellowish-black insects, measuring about 1/8" long. They have four very thin, veinless, feather-like wings. The wing margins are fringed with close-set long hairs. Wings are laid back over the body while at rest. Nymphs are creamy-white and wingless. Thrips move rapidly, and they will quickly vacate their host when disturbed.
Feeding damage on the grass blades looks similar to the stippling caused by lace bugs. Indeed, the underside of the blades may even be covered by small, shiny-black deposits that look similar to lace bug excrement. When the feeding injury coalesces, the grass blades become silvery or whitish in appearance. Although somewhat rare, this turf pest can occasionally develop significant populations, particularly during the hotter summer months. Applications for controlling this thrip are seldom recommended since the damage, although noticeable, is usually not significant.