Entomology, Department of
Date of this Version
4-1970
Citation
E. A. Heinrichs, Leonard C. Lehman, Lloyd M. Callahan, C. J. Southards, Ellis L. Matheny. 1970. The response of Kentucky bluegrass turf to insecticidal treatments. Tennessee Farm and Home Science Progress Report Number 74--April, May, June 1970: 6-7.
Abstract
The most common insect pests of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) in Tennessee are sod webworms and white grubs. Attempts to control these insects with insecticides has, at times, resulted in the entire destruction of the lawn by sod webworms. Pass (1965) has shown that applications of aldrin, chlordane, and dieldrin increased the webworm population 2-3 fold. Streu and Vasvary (1966) found the same phenomenon in chinch bug control. Both Pass and Streu believed that this population increase of the target pest may have been related to an interference in some population-limiting mechanism, such as the natural enemies, but neither investigator definitely proved this. In view of the problem that home owners have had after applying insecticides for webworm and grub control, it was decided to conduct a study to determine the overall effects of insecticides on bluegrass. The research reported herein covers only a preliminary phase of that study: the effect of insecticides on botanical composition of a bluegrass turf.