Information on the use of insecticides to treat turf pest problems is only meant to be used for the unusual cases where turf damage from pests becomes unacceptable. All lawns in Michigan will typically start off lush and green in the spring and will go dormant and turn brown during periods of little rain. This will build a dense stand of turf and a diverse community of insects that will keep turf pests under control. Preventing Pest Injury to Turfgrass: Home lawns, recreational turf and golf course roughs can be managed to avoid insect injury without insecticides by using proper fertility, mowing at a height of 3.0 to 4.0 inches, and watering during dry periods. Cutworms will often chew the stems of grass plants around the entrance to their tunnel, leaving a yellow ball-mark patch. Also, look for emergence holes from cutworm tunnels on tees and greens. In approximately 3-5 min the larvae will come to the top of the grass and will be very evident. Sampling: Use a disclosing solution consisting of 1 oz of liquid detergent in 3 gal of water and pour over the green. These have a distinct head capsule with chewing mouthparts, 6 legs, and most of the segments following with fleshy prolegs. Irrigated tees and greens.ĭescription of damaging stage: The larval stages are the damaging stages and are 1/2 to 1 3/4 inch long caterpillars. Site: Highly maintained golf course turf. When damage would be found: June to October Sometimes a problem on fairways, too.(Image C) Up close: Pencil-sized holes on greens of tees that have been enlarged. Notes: There is a new species of cutworm called the winter cutworm in northern Michigan that overwinters in Michigan and causes its damage during the winter or early spring months.ĭistant: Holes on greens and tees, and, ball-mark damage where the larger cutworms scalp the turf in a small circle around the entrance to their tunnel. They can go through several generations per year, so damage can occur at different times over the summer. The insect does not overwinter in Michigan (see notes section) and flies in on wind currents in the spring. There are several species that can be a problem on turf. The adults are nondescript brown or grey moths (Image A & B).

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