turf and ornamental pest control

ER IC STORMER , NAVFAC ATLANT IC

TURF AND ORNAMENTALPEST CONTROL

P U B L I C H E A LT H ● E N V I R O N M E N TA L S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y ● A E S T H E T I C S

WHY & WHERE?

Constructed Environments

METHODS OF MONITORING

Using a disclosing solution to flush insects from the thatch

DISTINGUISHING PROBLEMSABIOTIC VS. BIOTIC

ABIOTIC (NON-LIVING)

•Caused by non-living conditions, such as soil compaction, wind, frost, salts, and girdling roots

ABIOTIC INJURY

•Physical evidence is not usually found on the plant, i.e., wind damage•Does not usually spread•May affect numerous plant species

Pathogen

Conducive Environmen

tSusceptible

Host

Biotic diseases cannot occur without each of these elements being present.

DISEASE

BIOTIC (LIVING)

•Caused by living organisms, including insects, fungi, bacteria, and viruses•Develop gradually•Often appear irregularly

BIOTIC INJURY

•Often accompanied by evidence, i.e., insect cast skins, frass, fungal spores•May spread progressively in a plant, or to other plants• Some will be specific to a plant species

INFLUENTIAL FACTORSAbiotic

• Air (Oxygen, Nitrogen)• Water• Light• Wind• Soil• pH• Temperature• Humidity• Salinity• Inorganic nutrients

Biotic• Other organisms:• Competitors• Disease agents• Predators• Symbiosis, e.g.,• Mutualism• Parasitism• Commensalism

SIGNS & SYMPTOMSBIOTIC OR ABIOTIC?

SIGNS

• Signs are the actual organisms causing disease• These include:• Fruiting bodies – reproductive structures of

fungi• Spores – reproductive cells of fungi• Mycelium – tubular, thread-like growth of fungi• Mildew – whitish growth composed of

mycelium of fungi• Insects and/or their frass (excrement) are also

signs, although not signs of disease

SYMPTOMS

• Symptoms are the plant’s reactions to the causal agent• These include:• Leaf spots• Abnormal growth/malformed tissue• Stunted growth• Wilting• Dead tissue• Discolored tissue• Exudation of sap or gum• Insect feeding injury – this is a symptom used for

diagnosis, but not a symptom of a disease

DIAGNOSING PROBLEMS IN LANDSCAPES

• Many abiotic and biotic agents can bring about the same injury• Diagnosis may be challenging due to variability• Soils• Plant selection• Environmental conditions• Dynamic nature; continuously changing• Individual factors may cause injury alone, or

in conjunction with other factors• Chronic problems may express subtle

symptoms

DIAGNOSING PROBLEMS

• ID the plant• ID the symptoms• Inspect the entire plant/planting• Inspect the site• Look for patterns• Review management history of the site• Test likely causes

INSECTS & MITESAN INTRODUCTION

TURF GRASS PESTSINSPECTION & SURVEYING

MONITORING FOR TURF INSECTS

• Look for the suspected pest•Discolored or withered blades• Chewed or frayed blades or roots• Frass (excrement) or webbing• Small holes, mounds, or burrows• Presence of a large number of birds, animal droppings

TURF GRASS PESTSABOVE GROUND FEEDERS

ARMYWORMS

Fall Armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda

Yellow Striped ArmywormSpodoptera ornithogalli

CHINCH BUGS

Adult (Approx. 1/8” long) Nymphs

SOD WEBWORMS

BILLBUGS

TURF GRASS PESTSBELOW GROUND FEEDERS

WHITE GRUBS

Japanese Beetle

Northern Masked Chafer Beetle

MOLE CRICKETS

ORNAMENTAL PLANT PESTSDEFOLIATORS

GYPSY MOTH LARVA

GYPSY MOTH

TENT CATERPILLARS

BAGWORMS

ORNAMENTAL PLANT PESTSSKELETONIZERS

JAPANESE BEETLES

SAWFLIES

Hibiscus Sawfly

ORNAMENTAL PLANT PESTSBORERS

BORERS

• Enter shoots, twigs, stems, bark, and trunks to feed and complete their life cycle

• Examples:• Bark Beetles (e.g., southern pine beetle)• Pine tip moths• Twig Borers (e.g., dogwood twig borer)• Stem and trunk borers (e.g., bronze birch

borer)

EMERALD ASH BORER

LEAF MINERSMOTHS ● WASPS ● FLIES

Colu

mbi

ne le

af m

iner

fly

SAP SUCKING INSECTS & MITES

A P H I D S , S T I N K B U G S , H O P P ER S , S C A L E S , M I TE S , T H R I P S , W H I T E F L I E S

APHIDS

HOPPERS

STINK BUGS

THRIPS

MITES (ARACHNIDA, “SPIDER”)

SCALES

WHITEFLIES

OTHER PESTS OF NOTEMISCELLANEOUS

BOX ELDER BUGS

CUTWORMS

Bronze cutworm caterpillar

Bron

ze c

utwo

rm a

dult

Black cutworm caterpillar

IDENTIFICATION & SURVEY

• ID the pest• Know its life cycle to plan monitoring and

control• Inspect regularly throughout the growing

season• Inspect highly valued areas at least weekly• Inspect for overwintering pests• Look on leaf undersides, plant stems, and

trunks

DISEASES OFORNAMENTAL PLANTS

WHAT IS A “DISEASE”?

A disease is defined as any impairment of plant health or condition of abnormal functioning.

TYPES OF PLANT DISEASEBIOTIC

Bacteria Fungi

VirusNematodes

CAUSES OF DISEASE

PLANT DISEASESMANIFESTATIONS

PLANT PARASITIC NEMATODES

• Microscopic, unsegmented worms• Reproduction is sexual, via eggs• Some feed on roots externally, others internally

VIRAL• Some can be

spread by insects, such as aphids, and whiteflies• Symptoms: • Yellow to white

mosaic pattern• Leaf curl• Yellowing• Necrosis• Stunting

ROT (FUNGAL)

ROT (FUNGAL)

BLIGHT (BACTERIAL)

CANKER (BACTERIAL, FUNGAL)

Black knot cankerBacterial canker in cherry

GALL (BACTERIAL, FUNGAL OR INSECTS)

WILT (BACTERIAL, FUNGAL)

RUSTS (FUNGAL)

ORNAMENTAL PLANT DISEASES

ROOT ROT (PYTHIUM, PHYTOPHTHORA)

Healthy roots

Diseased roots

CROWN GALL (AGROBACTERIUM SPP.)

FIRE BLIGHT (ERWINIA AMYLOVORA)

WILT (VERTICILLIUM FUNGI)

LEAF SPOT (ANTHRACNOSE FUNGI)

POWDERY MILDEW (MISC. FUNGI)

SOOTY MOLD

TURF DISEASES

WHAT TO LOOK FORIn An Entire

Lawn• Spots• Circles• Patches• Irregular growth

Individual Plants• Leaf spots• Lesions• Foliar dieback• Crown rot• Root rot

BROWN PATCH (FUNGAL)

Symptoms: Circular yellow-brown patches of thinned turf. On individual blades, elongated lesions bordered above and below by tan or chocolate-brown bands.

BROWN PATCH (FUNGAL)

SCLEROTINIA DOLLAR SPOT(FUNGAL)

Leaf blades with lesions – reddish margin at top and bottom, and curled “hourglass” shape

SCLEROTINIA LEAF SPOT (FUNGAL)

MELTING OUT

MELTING OUT (FUNGAL)

PINK SNOW MOLD (FUNGAL)

Under snow cover, Pink Snow Mold causes circular patches of disease that can be up to 20 cm across

PINK SNOW MOLD

FAIRY RING (FUNGAL)

FAIRY RING (TYPE 1)

FAIRY RING (TYPE 2)

FAIRY RING (TYPE 3)

DISEASE MANAGEMENTPRINCIPLES

SIX MAJOR ELEMENTS

EXCLUSION

ERADICATION

PROTECTION

RESISTANCE

THERAPY

Chemotherapy

Meristem (tissue) culture

AVOIDANCE

CONTROL METHODSNON-CHEMICAL

KEEP ‘EM HEALTHY

•Proper irrigation•Appropriate fertilization•Maintain soil structure/condition•Proper mowing and/or pruning•Good sanitation (remove harborage)

NON-CHEMICAL CONTROL

•Select disease resistant plant varieties (cultivars)•Protect and encourage natural enemies

CONTROL METHODSCHEMICAL

CHEMICAL CONTROL - INSECTS

• Effective and economical control requires:• Correct identification of pest and host

plant

• Proper pesticide selection

• Proper equipment selection

• Timely and proper application of pesticides

CHEMICAL CONTROL - DISEASES

• Fungicides prevent infection, or inhibit spore development

• Systemic and preventative fungicides

• Reapplication of fungicides is often needed

HAZARD CONTROLS

• Avoid pesticide drift; don’t apply when wind speed exceeds 5mph•Use the lowest practical operating pump pressure•Use extreme caution when applying pesticides near slopes, water, wetlands or areas of non-target organisms.

HAZARD CONTROL - DISEASES

• Set the nozzle pattern in accordance with the type of pesticide used•When applying in areas where cars park, announce at least 1 day ahead• Reduce likelihood of phytotoxicity; use wettable powders over emulsifiable concentrates

E R I C . ST O R M E R @ N AV Y. M I L

THE END