Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 11

Lesson 11. Turfgrass Insect Pests and Controls

Bugs Are There!
Terms
biological control: one of the methods used to control
insect pests: The general application of biological controls National Science
include using natural enemies and pathological Education
Standards, Grades
microorganisms of the pest. 9-12
caterpillar: the larvae stage of moths and butterflies: Unifying Concepts
Some of them are serious pests such as sod webworm, cut and Processes:

worms, and armyworms. Systems, order, and

organization
chewing mouthparts: insects such as white grubs and Evidence, models
caterpillars chew plant tissues and explanation

endophyte: a type of fungi that lives with a host Science as Inquiry:

symbiotically and produces toxic chemicals to insect pests Understanding about
without affecting the host scientific inquiry
Abilities to do
larva: the immature stage of insects that undergo scientific inquiry
complete metamorphosis Life Science:
metamorphosis: the transformation or change in Interdependence of
appearance that occurs when an immature insect organisms
becomes an adult: There are two types of metamorphosis, Matter, energy, and
complete metamorphosis with eggs ,larva, pupa, and organization in living
systems
adult; incomplete metamorphosis: egg, nymph, and adult.
Behavior of
nymph: the immature stages of insect species that organisms
undergo incomplete metamorphosis such as chinchbugs History and Nature of
and mole crickets Science:

Science as human
pupa: the stage of an insect from larva to an inactive, endeavor
non-feeding stage during which it transforms into an
Nature of scientific
adult knowledge
subsurface feeders: the insects that live in the soil and Mathematical Skills
attack roots.
sucking mouthparts: insects such as chinch bugs,
aphids, mosquitoes and chinchbugs pierce into plant
tissues to get food
surface feeders: insects that just attack the shoots and
leaves of turfgrasses.
Performance Objectives
The student will
• describe the two major ways in which lawn insect pests
attack turfgrasses.

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• identify five insect species that are serious pests of
turfgrasses.
• describe the life cycle and characteristics of major turf
insects: white grubs, cut worms, armyworms, chinch bugs,
and mole crickets.
• explain the main insect control methods.
Materials Needed
For the class
Use the photos provided in this lesson
For each small group of students
None
For each student
Student sheet
Background Information
Insects with chewing mouthparts grubs, caterpillars, mole crickets, and
grasshoppers, chew plant tissues. However, chinch bugs, scales, and aphids,
have to suck plant juice by using sucking mouthparts. Mosquitoes also have
sucking mouthparts.
Turfgrass insect pests attack both roots and shoots of turfgrasses. Cutworms,
armywoms, aphids, chinchbugs, adult billbugs, sod webworms, and some
troubling mites (not insects) are surface feeders; white grubs and mole crickets
are subsurface feeders.
Some turfgrasses are not affected by insects because they already contain
endophytes. This type of symbiotic fungi naturally occurs in the leaves and
shoots but not in the roots. These endophytes produce chemicals toxic to
insects but not to the turfgrass.
Biological controls are often used to control turfgrass insect pests on golf
courses. The general application of biological controls include using natural
enemies and pathological microorganisms of the pest.
Teacher Preparation
• Collect insects commonly found on golf courses.
• Draw a diagram of a typical insect.
• Collect an insecticide label.
• Duplicate student sheet.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 11
Procedure
1. Ask students to describe a typical insect.
2. Ask students to draw an insect and label it.
3. Compare surface feeders and subsurface feeders that feed on turfgrasses.
4. Explain biological control.
5. Explain how turfgrasses with endophytes help keep surface feeders away.
6. Explain insecticide application:
Ø When the insect population reaches its threshold (white grubs about 10 per
square foot and chinch bugs about 20 to 30 per square foot), the control
application should start.
Ø When an insecticide is applied for soil pests, watering should follow.
Ø When a surface feeder insecticide is used, mowing should be avoided for a
couple of days.
Ø Introduce the concept of biological control and the importance of biological
control to our environment.
7. Divide the students into groups and have each group study one turfgrass insect
pest and its control methods.
8. Ask each group to report on the group's insect pest.
Reflection
Why do insects pose a serious problem to turfgrasses?
Which kinds of insects, subsurface feeders or surface feeders are easily
controlled?
List the advantages of using biological control methods.
Enhancement
• Visit lawns with insect problems.
• Collect lawn insect specimens.
• Create a database and draw turf insects using any available computer
programs.
Assessment
Determine the students' performance based on
• the degree of accomplishment on the student sheet.
• the performance during the class, experiment, or filed trip.
• the participation in the discussions and the reflection questions.
• the degree of accomplishment on the "Scoring Rubric".

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 11
STUDENT FACT SHEET Student ________________ Date____________

TURFGRASS INSECT PESTS AND CONTROLS

1. The larvae of beetles that live in the soil and feed on turfgrass roots are
called white grubs.
2. Turfgrass insect pests have two types of mouthparts: chewing and sucking.
3. Endophyte infected turfgrasses have resistance to surface feeders such as
chinch bugs, aphids, armyworms, cutworms, and sob webworms.
4. The mole cricket is a serious insect pest in the southern states.
5. Biological controls of insect pests have been used for more than 80 years.
6. Biological control methods include using microorganisms, nematodes, and
natural enemies.
7. Insecticides should only be used when the insect pest population is
beyond the threshold of tolerance.
8. Subsurface feeders such as white grubs and mole crickets are more
difficult to control than surface feeders.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 11
STUDENT SHEET Student ________________ Date____________

TURFGRASS INSECT PESTS AND CONTROLS

1. Write the definition:

biological control:

caterpillar:

chewing mouthparts:

endophyte:

larva:

metamorphosis:

nymph:

pupa:

subsurface feeders:

sucking mouthparts:

surface feeders:

2. Draw a typical insect and label each part

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3. Answer the following questions

1) The larvae of beetles that live in the soil and feed on turfgrass roots are
called ______________
2) Turfgrass insect pests have two types of mouthparts: ____________ and
______________
3) An insecticide that is applied to the soil should be ________ after it has been
applied
4) The front legs of mole crickets are adapted for _______________ Page _____

4. Why are white grubs sometimes harder to control than chinch bugs?

5. What is the most common insect pest in your area?

6. What is a symbiotic relationship? Why are endophytes beneficial to

turfgrasses?

7. What impact do endophytes have on grazing animals?

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A SCORING RUBRIC Name ________________Date _____________

TURFGRASS INSECT PESTS AND CONTROLS

The purpose of this

lesson was

The main method(s)

or procedure(s) we
learned was (were)

The best example(s)

that I can use to
describe the content
of this lesson

Subjects or courses
that I can relate this
lesson to

The information of
this lesson can be
applied to

In summary, what I
learned

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 11

Photos of Common Turfgrass Insect Pests

Armyworms

Caterpillars
Complete metamorphosis

Attack turfgrass shoots

Control by using endophyte

infected turfgrass and insecticides

Billbugs
Beetles
Complete metamorphosis

Attack turfgrass roots and shoots

as adults and white grubs.

Control by using endophyte

infected turfgrass, insecticides or
other methods.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 11

Black Turfgrass Ataenius

Beetles
Complete metamorphosis
Attack turfgrass roots as white
grubs

Control by using insecticides and

other cultural and biological
methods.

Chinchbugs

Incomplete metamorphosis
Attack turfgrasses with a
sucking mouth

Control by using insecticides,

endophyte infected turfgrass and
other cultural and biological
methods.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 11

Cutworms

Complete metamorphosis
Attack turfgrass shoots and
leaves

Control by using insecticides,

endophyte infected turfgrass and
other cultural and biological
methods.

Japanese Beetles

Complete metamorphosis
Attack turfgrass as white
grubs and adult beetles

Control by using insecticides,

other cultural and biological
methods.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 11

Mole Crickets
Incomplete metamorphosis
Attack warm-season
turfgrasses by damaging roots
and the soil structure

Control by using insecticides,

other cultural and biological
methods.

Sod Webworms

Complete metamorphosis
Attack turfgrass shoots

Control by using insecticides,

endophyte infected turfgrasses
and other cultural and biological
methods.

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Unit V Golf Course Management Lesson 11

White Grubs
Complete metamorphosis
Include several beetles and
their larvae attack turfgrasses
by damaging roots.

Control by using insecticides,

other cultural and biological
methods.

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