turf and ornamental pest control
TRANSCRIPT
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