Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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Red leaf spot of creeping bentgrass is a poorly understood leaf spot disease in turfgrass. Almost all golf course superintendents think they have it at one point or another, but nobody ever really does.
Red leaf spot on creeping bentgrass putting green. Photo: Richard Buckley, Rutgers PDL
The common Bagworm Caterpillar (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) has undergone egg hatch throughout much of the state during the past few weeks (GDD = 600-900). The early instar stages during the month of June can easily be overlooked. For the first few weeks after hatch, the smaller Bagworms do not produce conspicuous feeding symptoms. However, for best control results these early instars should be targeted. Although the potential hosts of the Bagworm are large, they are generally of most concern on evergreen conifers.
Unhatched Bagworm Eggs in Female Sack
Photo by Steven K. Rettke of RCE
By Jim Murphy
Back on May 24, I posted about my observation of crabgrass emerging in areas that had very thin turf cover and very high levels of crabgrass seed in the soil. Crabgrass is now emerging from areas with healthier turf and good density (and has not received a preemergence herbicide application). Recent and forecast rains are likely to intensify crabgrass pressure over the coming days and weeks. It is time to start scouting areas for breakthrough of crabgrass, if this is a concern. Postemergence control options were summarized in my earlier post. Click here to access Dr. Stephen Hart’s fact sheet on crabgrass and goosegrass control.
You can see our herbicide evaluation trials (synthetic and organic products) during the Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Days on 30 and 31 July 2013 at Hort Farm No. 2 in North Brunswick NJ. Register online for one or both days; click here to register.
Last week (6-8-13) the first emergence of the adult red-headed flea beetle (Systena frontalis) was observed in a Cumberland County nursery. This insect has been a major pest at numerous NJ nurseries during the past several years. Primarily a concern with container crops in nurseries, it has an extensive host range. The foliage damage to plants from this 0.2-0.25 inch adult beetle can become extreme.
Adult red-headed flea beetle & characteristic feeding symptoms on a leaf. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Red-headed flea beetle with prominent reddish head and shiny black thorax and abdomen (4.5-6.5 mm)
Golf turf sample submission has been rather slow so far this season. Arguably, cooler temperatures and ample precipitation this spring have provided us with excellent growing conditions for cool-season turfgrass. As long as everybody’s grass looks good, then submissions stay down (bring on some heat!). There has been one exception this season, which is the frequent submission of samples for nematode analysis.
Spiral and ring nematodes.
Photo: Sabrina Tirpak, Rutgers PDL
Date: Thursday, June 20, 2013
Location: Rutgers Eco-Complex, Bordentown, New Jersey
