Survey on Major Insect Pests and Management Practices Adopted for Georgia Golf Courses and Sod Farms

Abstract Because turfgrass is maintained in various settings, such as golf courses, lawns, and commercially grown in sod farms, it is critical to understand its major insect pests and management practices. A survey was conducted to determine the major insect pests and current management practices in the commercial turfgrass industries in Georgia. A total of 32 respondents representing golf courses and sod farms participated in the survey. A significantly greater number of respondents represented golf courses (75% of 32 respondents) than sod farms (25%). The respondents (n =31) identified fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith (32.5%), white grubs, Phyllophaga spp. (20.8%), mole crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae; 16.9%), and others (22%) as major pests in comparison to billbugs, Sphenophorus spp. (7.8%) and chinch bugs, Blissus spp. (0%). Of 31 respondents, 64.5% applied insecticides two to five times and 22.5% respondents applied insecticides 5–10 times for insect management each year. Among nonchemical tools (n=24), most respondents opted to do nothing (70.8%) than use biological control (0%), host plant resistance (25%), or other management tools (4.2%).