DAMAGE DESCRIPTION:
Infested turf wilts and tips turn yellow and eventually brown then curl; produces masses of frothy material or spittle that encircles twigs, leaves and at nodes; adults are black and have 2 orange transverse stripes across their wings; approx. ¼ inch long; adults hop and usually do not fly; nymphs are yellow or white in color with a brown head and red eyes; enveloped in a mass of white frothy spittle that they excrete for protection; both adult and nymphs suck juices from the grass with their piercing sucking mouthparts, but damage is through adults by injection of phytotoxic salivary substance; adults most active in early morning hours, during heat they retreat to the soil surface.
HOST GRASSES:
They attack all turfgrass species but seem to prefer Centipedegrass.
LIFE CYCLE:
Winter is spent in the egg stage that hatches in the spring; nymphs produce the spittle mass to prevent them from drying out, and develop through 4 instars within about one month; eggs hatch in about 2 weeks; 2 generations per year.
FACTORS THAT MAY PROMOTE INSECT DAMAGE:
Adults more active in early morning; excessive thatch.
CULTURAL CONTROL:
Monitor for adults and frothy mass; remove excess thatch.
CHEMICAL CONTROL:
To aid in control, mow and remove clippings before an insecticide is applied; irrigation before treatment will also help.
| Specific Insecticide Recommendations | ||||
|
Insecticide (chemical name) |
Efficacy |
Application Interval |
Time of Year To Apply |
Example of Products (trade names |
| Bifenthrin | Good | As needed | Spring to Fall | Talstar |
| Carbaryl | Good | As needed | Spring to Fall | Sevin |
| Deltamethrin | Good | As needed | Spring to Fall | DeltaGard, Regal |
REFERENCES:
Liskey, E., “Turfgrass Insecticides”, Grounds Maintenance, Volume 37, Number 2, February 2002, pp. 8-10.