3A TURFGRASS PEST MANAGEMENT
STUDY GUIDE | COMPLETE SOLUTION
GRADED A+
Varieties of grass containing endophyte fungi are an example of: - Plant resistance.
Raking, thatch removal and aeration are examples of: - Cultural controls.
Hand removal, traps, barriers and repellents are examples of: - Mechanical and
physical controls.
Example of a turfgrass disease that can be managed with hand removal techniques: -
Slime mold.
Turf cannot at the same time benefit from biological control methods and be pest free
because: - There must be a low level of pest or prey insects for the predators to feed
on.
Why is it important to use both short term suppression and long term maintenance
tactics in pest management? - Usually offers a quick fix, but the pest population will
rebuild. Maintenance must be used to reduce pest populations permanently.
How can you help maintain existing populations of beneficial organisms in a turf stand?
- By making pesticide applications only when needed.
What is the most commonly used microbial insecticide? On what insect larvae is it
effective? - Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, used to control caterpillars.
Are microbial insecticides best used for short or long term suppression of pest
populations? - Long term. Microbial insecticides are slower acting and do not kill all of
the pests at once, which allows there to be food for other beneficial organisms.
Ways to classify pesticides: - Types of pests
Pesticide chemistry
Mode of action
Pesticide formulation.
, Benefits of systemic herbicides: - Superior in treating persistent perennial weeds, kills
both above ground and below ground parts of plant.
Benefits of broad spectrum pesticides: - Can be used to control several pests, but more
likely to be hazardous to non target organisms.
Benefits of residual pesticides: - Good for use when the goal is to reduce the number of
applications required to control persistent pests.
Benefits of contact herbicides: - Does not kill the underground parts of plant.
Basic principles of managing pests in turfgrass: - Produce healthy plants that can
reduce or better tolerate pest attack
Identify what is damaging the turf
Expect some pests and tolerate some damage
Using pesticides as a last resort.
Steps of IPM for turfgrass: - Detect pest
Identify pest
Determine the amount of damage and whether it is below or above the tolerance
thresholds
Select and use a management tactic
Evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy and keep records.
Methods for monitoring and detecting turfgrass pests: - Visually
Coffee can flush
White paper test
Root sampling
Disclosing solution
Explain why keeping track of degree day accumulations is more useful for monitoring
pest activity than going by calendar dates: - Insects, diseases and weeds develop
based on heat units. The accumulation of heat units varies from year to year.
STUDY GUIDE | COMPLETE SOLUTION
GRADED A+
Varieties of grass containing endophyte fungi are an example of: - Plant resistance.
Raking, thatch removal and aeration are examples of: - Cultural controls.
Hand removal, traps, barriers and repellents are examples of: - Mechanical and
physical controls.
Example of a turfgrass disease that can be managed with hand removal techniques: -
Slime mold.
Turf cannot at the same time benefit from biological control methods and be pest free
because: - There must be a low level of pest or prey insects for the predators to feed
on.
Why is it important to use both short term suppression and long term maintenance
tactics in pest management? - Usually offers a quick fix, but the pest population will
rebuild. Maintenance must be used to reduce pest populations permanently.
How can you help maintain existing populations of beneficial organisms in a turf stand?
- By making pesticide applications only when needed.
What is the most commonly used microbial insecticide? On what insect larvae is it
effective? - Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, used to control caterpillars.
Are microbial insecticides best used for short or long term suppression of pest
populations? - Long term. Microbial insecticides are slower acting and do not kill all of
the pests at once, which allows there to be food for other beneficial organisms.
Ways to classify pesticides: - Types of pests
Pesticide chemistry
Mode of action
Pesticide formulation.
, Benefits of systemic herbicides: - Superior in treating persistent perennial weeds, kills
both above ground and below ground parts of plant.
Benefits of broad spectrum pesticides: - Can be used to control several pests, but more
likely to be hazardous to non target organisms.
Benefits of residual pesticides: - Good for use when the goal is to reduce the number of
applications required to control persistent pests.
Benefits of contact herbicides: - Does not kill the underground parts of plant.
Basic principles of managing pests in turfgrass: - Produce healthy plants that can
reduce or better tolerate pest attack
Identify what is damaging the turf
Expect some pests and tolerate some damage
Using pesticides as a last resort.
Steps of IPM for turfgrass: - Detect pest
Identify pest
Determine the amount of damage and whether it is below or above the tolerance
thresholds
Select and use a management tactic
Evaluate the effectiveness of the strategy and keep records.
Methods for monitoring and detecting turfgrass pests: - Visually
Coffee can flush
White paper test
Root sampling
Disclosing solution
Explain why keeping track of degree day accumulations is more useful for monitoring
pest activity than going by calendar dates: - Insects, diseases and weeds develop
based on heat units. The accumulation of heat units varies from year to year.
