Mole cricket management using a soil fumigant

Transcription

1 Mle cricket mngement using sil fumignt Lng used in griculture, 1,3-0 is being tested fr cntrlling mle crickets in turf. J. Bryn Unruh, Ph.D., nd Drin W. Lickfeldt, Ph.D. Mle crickets hve lng been trublesme pests in turf-cvered venues, prticulrly in the suthestern United Sttes. Imprted frm Suth Americ in the erly 1900s, mle crickets dmge turfgrss in severl wys. They tunnel thrugh the sil ner the surfce, lsening the sil nd leving the grss uprted. As the sil dries, the rts desiccte nd turf deth ensues. Mle crickets ls cuse direct injury s they feed n grss rts, cusing thinning f the turf nd inevitbly leding t bre sil. Indirect injury ls ccurs when predtry nimls such s rmdills nd pssums seek their nightly mel f these sil-brne insects. Mle crickets re extremely prlific. Ech spring, verwintered dults emerge, fly rund nd mte nd then depsit eggs in chmbers hllwed ut in the sil. Mst chmbers re fund in the upper 6 inches f sil, but cl tempertures nd/r dry sil result in chmber cnstructin t greter depths. After htch, the yung nymphs escpe frm the egg chmber nd burrw t the sil surfce in serch f fd. These yung mle crickets begin feeding n rts, rgnic mteril nd ther smll rgnisms, including insects. During wrm wether, mst mle cricket feeding ccurs t night fter rin shwers r irrigtin events. During the dy mle crickets sty in their permnent burrws nd my remin there fr lng perids when the wether is unfvrble. Adult mle crickets re strngly ttrcted t lights during their spring flights, nd there re reprts f mle cricket sightings n well-lit, ffshre il rigs. Mle cricket cntrl Cntrl f mle crickets hs lrgely been ccmplished with synthetic insecticides (5,6) nd, mre recently, with bilgicl cntrl gents such s the entmpthgenic nemtde Steinernem scpterisci nd the Brzilin red-eyed fly, Ormi deplet (4). Recently, hwever, severl reserchers hve been evluting 1,3- dichlrprpene, sil fumignt, fr its usefulness in cntrlling mle crickets. l,3-dichlrprpene (l,3-d) ws develped in 1943 nd ws the first effective nd inexpensive nemticide Mre Inf: Mle crickets kill turf by feeding n rts nd by uprting grss thrugh tunneling. Lng used in griculture, the pesticide I,3-dichlrprpene hs recently been tested n turf under n Experimentl Use Permit. In cmprtive tests with prducts used t cntrl mle crickets, I,3-D's perfrmnce ws similr t tht f the ther prducts. Februry 02 GeM 57

2 fr generl field use (2). In turf, 1,3-D ws tested fr nemtde cntrl in bermudgrss turf in 1953 (1). Over the yers, reserchers nd prctitiners hve nted tht 1,3-D (sld under the griculturl trde nme, Telne II) prvided nt nly exceptinl cntrl f nemtdes, but ls cntrl f sme sil-brne insects (3). Therefre, Dw AgrSciences hs been in the prcess f develping turf use lbels fr 1,3-D. Tested under n experimentl use permit, 1,3-D (turf trde nme, Curfew) hs been very effective when injected int the sil under turfgrss sd fr nemtde mngement. Hwever, t substntite the clims f mle cricket nd ncillry insect cntrl, extensive testing hs been cnducted since Reserch prjects Trils hve been cnducted ech summer since 1999 t determine the efficcy f 1,3-D fr insect cntrl in Flrid. In ll the studies, three r fur replictins f reltively lrge plts (~1,500 squre feet) were used, nd the pplictins were mde using trctrdriven culter/shnk injectin rig. 1,3- D ws injected t depth f t lest 6 inches nd the culters/ shnks were spced 12 inches prt. Tests hve been cnducted n glf curse Tifwy berm udgrss firwys nd driving rnges mintined t 0.5 inch. Becuse use f 1,3-D requires 24-hur reentry intervl nd lo-ft setbck frm n ccupied structure (such s schl, hspitl, business r residence), cre ws given t ssure cmplince with these regultins. Nitrgen rte vries frm lctin t lctin. >- 'g '" 8.r; 0.. Prper irrigtin nd fertiliztin prmte heling f culter injury incurred during sil injectin f 1,3-0 fumignt. Culter injury is shwn t three dys fter tretment (tp); the heled turf is shwn t tw weeks fter tretment (bttm). Sndestin Glf nd Bech Resrt Methds. A tril ws cnducted t the Sndestin Glf nd Bech Resrt in Destin, Fl., in the Flrid pnhndle, in summer 1999 t determine the level f turf injury tht 1,3-D might cuse versus the level f turf injury cused by the pplictin equipment. 1,3-D (9.4 SL frmultin: 94 percent 1,3- dichlrprpene) ws pplied n July 7, t 5 gllns per cre, using the equipment described bve. The fumignt ws injected t 4, 6 r 8 inches belw the turf surfce. T ssess the turf injury frm the equipment lne, plts were treted in similr mnner, withut pplying the fumignt. An untreted cntrl ws ls included. Results. Regrdless f rting dte, n significnt differences were nted mng pplictin depths r between plts treted with 1,3-D r equipment nly (dt nt shwn). 58 GeM Februry 02

3 Bttm line. A miniml level f injury (necrsis r brwning f the turf) ccurred where the culter cut the turf nd the fumignt ws injected. Hwever, fter tw weeks, the brwn "cut lines" were hrdly nticeble nd were typiclly greener. Ft. Wltn Bech Glf Club - 00 Methds. A tril ws cnducted t the Ft. Wltn Bech (Fl.) Glf Club in the Flrid pnhndle in summer 00 t determine whether 1,3-D wuld prvide effective cntrl f mle crickets when sil-injected n glf curse driving rnge. Using the equipment described bve, 1,3-D ws pplied t 5 nd 10 gllns per cre n June 22. As cmprtive tretment, chlrpyrifs (Dursbn Cted Grnules, 2 percent.i.) ws pplied t 0 punds/cre. Results. At nd 39 dys fter tretment (DAT), 1,3-D t bth 5 nd 10 gllns/cre prvided mle cricket cntrl tht ws nt significntly different frm the cntrl prvided by chlrpyrifs. By DAT, hwever, l,3-d cntrl f mle crickets diminished t 57 percent fr the 5-glln rte nd 70 percent fr the 10- glln rte, while chlrpyrifs cntinued t prvide 85 percent cntrl. Sme surprising bservtins were nted with turfgrss qulity, hwever. At 39 DAT, bth rtes f l,3-d hd uncceptble turf qulity, ttributed lrgely t burn sscited with the fumignt. By DAT, turf qulity in plts treted t the 5-glln rte did nt differ frm turf qulity in the untreted plts. Turf qulity in plts treted t the l-glln rte ws significntly belw tht f the untreted plts. The treted re ws driving rnge, nd the turf hd received indequte irrigtin nd nly miniml fertilizer pplictin s tht it did nt hve the needed resurces t recver frm the pplictin injury. Bttm line. Results frm this study shwed tht chlrpyrifs nd 1,3-D cn cntrl twny mle crickets effectively. Results frm this tril ls reveled the imprtnce f ptiml 100 e 60 +-' u ~ 40 1,3-0 5 gllns/cre Chlrpyrifs (2%.i.) 1, gllns/cre Untreted Effect f 1,3-0 nd chlrpyrifs n turf qulity ~ ,3-0 5 gllns/cre 1, gllns/cre 39 Chlrpyrifs (2%.i.) Untreted Dys fter tretment Brs lbeled with the sme leiter indicte vlues tht re nt significntly different frm ne nther. The tril ws cnducted t Frt Wltn Bech (Fl.) GC by J. Bryn Unruh, University f Flrid, Jy. 39 Dys fter tretment Brs lbeled with the sme letter indicte vlues tht re nt significntly different frm ne nther. The tril ws cnducted t Frt Wltn Bech (Fl.) GC by J. Bryn Unruh, University f Flrid, Jy. Februry 02 GeM 59

4 100 e u ::R Brs lbeled with the sme letter indicte vlues tht re nt significntly different frm ne nther. The tril ws cnducted t Shl River CC, Crestview, Fl., by J. Bryn Unruh, University f Flrid, Jy. Twny mle cricket cntrl in Winter Grden, Fl. 100 e u -g. 40 III 1,3-0 5 gllns/cre Fiprnil 1, gllns/cre Untreted II 1,3-0 5 gllns/cre Chlrpyrifs (2%.i.) Untreted Dys fter tretment 97 Dys fter tretment 140 Brs lbeled with the sme letter indicte vlues tht re nt significntly different frm ne nther. The tril ws cnducted t Ornge Cunty Ntinl GC, Winter Grden, Fl., by TtlTurf Cnsulting llc. pre- nd pst-pplictin culturl prctices. Irrigtin nd nutrient mngement must be dequte t ffset the limited injury tht cn be bserved when using 1,3-D. Shl River Cuntry Club - 01 Methds. A tril ws cnducted t Shl River Cuntry Club in Crestview, Fl., in summer 01 t determine whether sil-injected 1,3-D wuld prvide effective cntrl f mle crickets n glf curse firwy. Using the equipment described bve, 1,3-D ws pplied t 5 nd 10 gllns per cre n My 29. As cmprtive tretment, fiprnil (Chipc Chice, G) ws surfce brdcst t 12.5 punds/cre. Results. On ll three rting dtes (31, 51 nd 79 DAT), there were n significnt differences in mle cricket cntrl mng ll the tretments. In this study mle cricket cntrl with 1,3-D ws mre vrible thn tht chieved with fiprnil, n industry stndrd. Bttm line. 1,3-D is cntct sil fumignt, killing bilgicl rgnisms tht cme int cntct with it. Furthermre, envirnmentl mnitring reserch hs shwn tht there is little t n residul mteril left in the sil. Therefre, if 1,3-D is pplied befre mle cricket spring mting flights nd subsequent egg lying, these insects prbbly will nt be cntrlled becuse the fumignt will hve dissipted. Winter Grden, Fl Methds. A tril ws cnducted t Ornge Cunty Ntinl Glf Center in Winter Grden, Fl., t determine whether sil-injected 1,3-D wuld effectively cntrl mle crickets n glf curse firwy. On My 15, 01, 1,3-D ws pplied t 5 gllns/cre using the equipment described bve. As cmprtive tretment, chlrpyrifs (2 percent.i.) ws pplied t 0 punds/cre. Results. As in the ther studies, 1,3-D prvided greter thn percent cntrl f mle crickets fr up t DAT, which ws nt significntly different 60 GeM Februry 02

5 frm the cntrl shwn by chlrpyrifs fr the durtin f the tril. Fr 97 DAT, turf qulity in l,3-d-treted plts ws significntly greter thn tht in plts treted with chlrpyrifs, but n tretment differences were nted in plts t 141 DAT (dt nt shwn). These plts ls cntined significnt number f sting nemtdes (Belnlimus lngicudtus) tht were cntrlled by l,3-d (dt nt shwn). Bttm line. Trils cnducted t gegrphiclly different lctins perfrmed similrly. By using brdspectrum sil fumignt, glf curse superintendents cn gin cntrl f severl sil-brne pests. Cnclusins These reserch trils, which were cnducted crss lrge gegrphic regin, demnstrte tht 1,3-D sil fumignt cn be successfully used t cntrl sil-brne pests withut cusing disruptin t the turf. One shuld expect miniml level f injury where the culters cut the turf, but fter tw weeks, this shuld n lnger be evident. Optiml pre- nd pst-pplictin culturl prctices such s prper irrigtin nd nutrient mngement shuld be perfrmed t prmte recvery frm injury by culters. It is criticl tht irrigtin r precipittin ttling Yt t 1,0 inch f wter ccurs s sn s pssible fllwing pplictin. This llws 1,3-D sil fumignt t dissipte thrugh the sil s tht it cmes int cntct with the sil-brne pests. Sil misture t the time f pplictin shuld be dequte t supprt gd turf grwth nd mintined t tht level fr t lest seven dys. It is ls dvisble t fertilize week befre the 1,3-D pplictin. Fr the best level f mle cricket cntrl, pplictin f 1,3-D shuld cincide with pek egg htch. Filure t d s will likely result in less mle cricket suppressin. Althugh the ctive ingredient in the 1,3-D sil fumignt dissiptes very quickly, mle crickets usully vid treted res fr dys fter pplictin n sites treted under the experimentl use permit. The mechnism f mle cricket suppressin is currently being investigted. Acknwledgments This reserch ws supprted by the Flrid Agriculturl Experiment Sttin nd in-kind finncil supprt frm Dw AgrSciences LLC. We thnk Chris Hd nd Clint White fr technicl ssistnce, nd, fr their ssistnce nd supprt f the reserch, we thnk glf curse superintendents Gerge Kleinpeter, Sndestin Glf nd Bech Resrt; Dvid VnSchmittu, Frt Wltn Bech GC; Rdfrd Shirley, Shl River CC; nd Crl Benedict, Ornge Cunty Ntinl Glf Center. Literture cited 1. Held, C.M., nd V.G. Perry. 19. Nemtdes nd ther pests. p In: Turfgrss science. Americn Sciety f Agrnmy, Mdisn, Wis. 2. Nling, J.w Rle f sil fumignts in Flrid griculture. p In: J.N. Seiber, J.A. Knutesn, J.E. Wdrw, N.L. Wlfe, M.V. Ytes nd S.R. Ytes (eds.). Fumignts: Envirnmentl fte, expsure, nd nlysis. Prceeding f 1996 Americn Chemicl Sciety Sympsium, Chicg, Aug ACS, Wshingtn, D.C. 3. Nling, J.w., nd J.O. Becker The chllenge f reserch nd extensin t define nd implement lterntives t methyl brmide. Jurnl f Nemtlgy (Supplement) 26( 4S): Prkmn, J.P., J.H. Frnk, T.J. Wlker nd D.J. Schuster Clssicl bilgicl cntrl f Scpteriscus spp. (Orthpter: Grylltlpide) in Flrid. Envirnmentl Entmlgy 25(6): Unruh, J.B. 00. Mle cricket mngement in fine turf. Flrid Turf Digest 17(5): Xi, Y., nd R. Brndenburg. 00. Tret yung mle crickets fr relible insecticide results. Glf Curse Mngement 68(3 ): J. Bryn Unruh, Ph.D. (e-mil: [email protected] s.ufl.edu), is n ssistnt prfessr t the University f Flrid's Institute f Fd nd Agriculturl Sciences, West Flrid Reserch nd Eductin Center ner Jy, Fl. Drin Lickfeldt, Ph.D., is field reserch bilgist fr Dw AgrSciences LLC in Fyetteville, G. Februry 02 GeM 61