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| Publication Type:
| Report |
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| Author(s): | Cockfield, S.;
Arnold, T. S.;
Potter, D. A. |
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| Title: | Ecology of predatory and decomposer invertebrates in turfgrass |
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| Source: | Kentucky Turfgrass Research. 1982, p. 36-38. |
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| Publishing Information: | Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service |
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| # of Pages: | 3 |
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| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Poa pratensis; Festuca arundinacea; Predators of insect pests; Chlorpyrifos; Isofenphos; Trichlorfon; Bendiocarb; Carabidae; Insecticide evaluation; Seasonal variation; Mites; Species trials
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| Abstract/Contents: | The population dynamics and diversity of predatory arthropods was compared in disturbed and relatively undisturbed turfgrass habitats. Pitfall traps were operated continiously from March-October in untreated Kentucky bluegrass, untreated tall fescue, and intensively managed Kentucky bluegrass lawns. These studies revealed for the first time the rich predator fauna, with 42 species of Carabidae (ground beetles), more than 40 species of Staphylinidae (rove beetles), and more than 30 species of spiders represented. Seasonal occurrence of all species was determined. Abundance of predators was dramatically lower in the highly managed sites. An index of similarity suggested that commercial turf management programs seriously alter the structure of predator communities in turfgrass. Conceivably, reduction of predators could encourage outbreaks of pests such as sod webworms, armyworms, or greenbugs. In a replicated field experiment, plots of Kentucky bluegrass were left unmanaged or maintained on a management schedule consisting of regular fertilizer, herbicide, fungicide, and insecticide treatments. Leaf-feeding, predatory and soil-inhabiting invertebrates were sampled regularly throughout the year, so that immediate and long-range changes could be measured. After one year, numbers of earthworms, ground beetles, and soil mites were not significantly reduced. Rove beetles and mobile, leaf-feeding insects (mainly leafhoppers) were severely reduced by insecticide treatments; the latter quickly returned to high levels, but the former did not recover for the remainder of the growing season. Phytophagous flea beetles increased in the fertilized plots. The study will be continued in 1983. To determine their relative impact on beneficial turfgrass arthropods, 4 insecticides were applied as surface sprays to Kentucky bluegrass. In general, chlorpyrifos (Dursban) and isofenphos (Oftanol) more severely affect the turf arthropod community, while trichlorfon (Proxol and Bendiocarb (Turcam) are somewhat "softer" on beneficial arthropods. Plots of Kentucky bluegrass that had been maintained under varying fertilization regimes for 6 years were sampled in May, July and September to determine abundance and diversity of oribatid mites. Although soil pH and thatch accumulation varied considerably between treatments, changes in the oribatid populations were not detected. The effect of the insecticides on spider and rove beetle density is provided in 2 tables. |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| See Also: | Other items relating to: LAWNOS |
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| Note: | Tables |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Cockfield, S., T. S. Arnold, and D. A. Potter. 1982. Ecology of predatory and decomposer invertebrates in turfgrass. KY. Turfgrass Res. p. 36-38. |
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