Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) is a severe pest of turfgrass. Many efforts have been dedicated to finding effective means of controlling black cutworm (BCW). Recent studies suggest that Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is resistant to BCW. We investigated the possible effects of plant age on the survival of black cutworm larvae on Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. Feeding bioassays were conducted using 24 cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass. Selection of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars were based on two factors including a classification system which groups Kentucky bluegrass cultivars into 12 types (two cultivars from each type were chosen for a total of 24 cultivars) and the use of a genetic map to ensure that the 24 cultivars represented a wide range of genetic diversity. Non-choice feeding bioassays were conducted using viable plants of two different ages: immature (10 d) and mature plants (30 d). Assays were conducted using 24 KB cultivars and creeping bentgrass cv. Penncross. Data were collected for larval weight, instar distribution, and survival. Results from this research may have implications in the selection of turfgrass types for management of BCW on golf courses.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Noctuidae Agrotis ipsilon (black cutworm)
Keywords: host plant resistance
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