Absence of Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) larvae in golf course putting greens

            Larvae of Popillia japonica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are common pests in turfgrass systems where they reside in the soil and feed on and destroy plant roots. Larvae are found in the soil in golf course rough and fairways, but are rarely found in adjacent golf course putting greens. It has been hypothesized that this phenomenon may be explained by differences in soil textural class and soil available water. Golf course putting greens are typically constructed using sand as the primary substrate. Thus, the soil environment is quite unique, compared to other areas on the golf course. It has also been theorized that the absence of P. japonica larvae on putting greens may be explained by the frequent application of fungicides to putting greens. It is possible that these products are inadvertently controlling larvae of P. japonica.

This study investigated the potential secondary effects of fungicides on P. japonica larvae, as well as the influence of soil available water on larval persistence in golf course putting greens. The findings of this study could result in more environmentally-sound chemical programs on golf courses as golf course superintendents may be able to avoid insecticide applications aimed at controlling P. japonica.