In Florida and other southern states, mole crickets are an insect pest of significant concern. To control them, many superintendents make broadcast insecticide applications each year. Unfortunately, one of the primary insecticides for controlling mole crickets and ants does not control other insect pests like grubs, which allows them to become increasingly problematic. Furthermore, grubs are typically difficult to control with other common topical insecticides that are applied to control surface-feeding insects like armyworms and caterpillars.
Part of a large residential community, On Top of the World Golf Club in Ocala, Florida, includes three golf courses and common grounds. Superintendent Andrew Jorgensen, CGCS, needed to control localized areas of sugarcane beetle grubs, but making broadcast insecticide applications for this scattered pest would be a large expense in both product and labor. There would also be wasted product if areas without the grubs were treated.
Jorgensen devised a simple, yet effective means of spot treating problem areas utilizing a 100-pound capacity motorized spreader. He mounted it on the back of his golf cart with an extended handle that allows the driver to open the hopper and deliver granular insecticide at a rate that is calibrated to the speed of the cart. When he observes active damage from grubs during his daily scouting of the three golf courses, he immediately treats the affected areas with the motorized spreader. Spot treatments can be a daily activity when grubs become active.
Being able to make spot treatments of granular insecticide has been invaluable in controlling sugarcane beetle grubs at Top of the World Golf Club. The product can be applied as soon as damage is observed and only to the affected areas, which saves time and product. Utilizing a granular product means there is no need to mix the insecticide with water and drift is not a concern. Nor is there any need for additional staff to perform the mixing, spraying and cleaning of sprayers, thereby saving labor hours. Carefully noting the areas treated ensures that the same area is not treated multiple times, which helps to minimize waste.
Southeast Region Agronomists:
Chris Hartwiger, director, USGA Course Consulting Service – chartwiger@usga.org
Steve Kammerer, Ph.D., senior consulting agronomist – skammerer@usga.org