Nontarget effects of new insecticidal chemistries in turfgrass

To determine nontarget effects of new insecticidal chemistries, field trials were conducted in rough cut areas of two golf courses in central New Jersey in 2007 . Indoxacarb (class: oxadiazine), chlorantraniliprole (anthranilic diamide), and clothianidin (neonicotinoid) were applied at two rates each, and treatments were replicated four times. One rate was at the lower end, the other at the higher end of the rate range allowed on the insecticide label. Treatments were applied in 934 L/ha and watered in at same rate (i.e., equivalent to 0.2 mm water). Thus, the applications represented typical applications against surface-feeding turfgrass insect pests and, with that, represented the worst case scenario for nontarget effects. Arthropod populations were observed through weekly sampling of five pitfall traps placed in each 10 m x 10 m plot directly before treatment application and at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after application. All organisms were classified to family when possible. Ants (Formicidae) were the most abundant family in all plots followed by springtails (Sminthuridae). Clothianidin increased ant counts after 1 week, while decreasing the counts of Collembolla, Carabidae, Staphylinidae , Linyphillidae, and Lycosidae. Data are still being processed at this time.