The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel), is a serious pest of golf course turf. Feeding by the larval stage of black cutworm (BCW) causes sunken pock-marks or suppressions on putting greens resulting in a reduction of uniformity and smoothness of playing surface. Damage typically occurs from late-April through early-October in the upper Midwestern United States. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of several integrated pest management (IPM) strategies of BCW on golf course turf. The first objective was to determine the effectiveness of the application of short-residual insecticides to the peripheral area of golf course putting greens, and not the putting green itself, as a means to reduce BCW infestations. The second objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of establishing mono-stands of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars, a known resistant host, in the peripheral area surrounding golf course putting greens. Because Kentucky bluegrass is known to be a resistant host for the development and survival of BCW, it was hypothesized that the establishment of Kentucky bluegrass around golf course putting greens may reduce BCW populations on golf course putting greens. Our final objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of mechanically removing BCW larvae by mowing golf course putting greens during the scotophase. Because BCW larvae are nocturnal, and most of feeding occurs on the putting green surface during the scotophase, it is hypothesized that mowing prior to sunrise will execute BCW larvae actively feeding on putting greens.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Agrotis ipsilon (black cutworm)
Keywords: cultural control, turfgrass
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