A long-term study is being conducted to examine the nontarget effects of pest management on the abundance, diversity and function of soil-dwelling arthropod communities in perennial grass-based agroecosystems. Data will be presented that compares and contrasts the acute and cumulative effects of alternative control tactics used to manage white grubs in turfgrass. A major result after four years is a significant cumulative effect of imidacloprid on springtail and predaceous beetle abundance. Building on these results, preliminary data will be presented from manipulative field experiments designed to determine the relevance of abundance and diversity effects for ecological function and the implications for soil processes and turfgrass health. It is expected that this work will support future studies on the costs, consequences and compensation of soil microarthropod communities when transgenics or other new plant protection technologies are deployed.