Effects of maintenance and cultural practices on Ataenius spretulus Haldeman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and their natural enemies on golf course turf

摘要

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to investigate why Ataenius spretulus Haldeman and Aphodius granarius (L.) infest golf course fairways in Michigan. A survey provided information on the distribution of A. spretulus and A. granarius on courses across the state as well as information on cultural practices. A follow-up sampling procedure for A. spretulus showed the larvae to be 4-fold more abundant in the fairway than the rough.;A field experiment tested the affects of chlorothalonil on A. spretulus adults and larvae and predators. Chlorothalonil had no affect on the monitored insects or the Bacillus popilliae Dutky infection levels of A. spretulus larvae.;A mowing study evaluated the effect of turf height on A. spretulus and its predators. In 1996, A. spretulus larvae were most prevalent in plots that were mowed to fairway height in 1995. In 1997, the highest populations of A. spretulus larvae were found in plots mowed to fairway height in 1996 and history had no affect on the location of larvae. In both years, staphylinids were most abundant in rough mowed turf. Twice as many A. spretulus larvae were infected with B. popilliae in the rough-mown turf compared with fairway-mown turf.