ENVU IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE 2025 STATE OF THE INDUSTRY — INSECT CONTROL REPORT

The golf course industry continues to struggle with annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) as it has now spread west to Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin. Chicago area golf courses, in particular, are likely seeing the largest increase in incidence and severity. ABW is one of the toughest insect pests to control in cool-season golf turf due to resistance to insecticides and multiple generations per year which have overlapping, asynchronous life cycle stages. Successful ABW control programs usually include at least two applications: a spring adulticide targeting overwintering adults and then a larvicide application targeting first-generation larvae. However, additional larvicide applications are often required into the summer months, targeting later generations. Rotating insecticide modes of action is critical to limit the chance of resistance development in ABW populations at your course. Envu solutions for ABW include Talstar® insecticide and Triple Crown® Golf insecticide for controlling adults, followed by Tetrino® insecticide for residual control of the larvae. Tetrino is also highly effective on billbugs and caterpillars. We’ve seen on-course success with the program approach of the insect growth regulator novaluron applied at the overwintering adulticide timing, followed by Tetrino at the traditional larvicide timing(s).

Though white grubs traditionally have been more problematic in the eastern half of the country, turf managers from the Rockies to California and the Pacific Northwest are now encountering these insects. Areas near the coast where soils don’t freeze can be especially problematic. In these climates, larvae stay near the soil surface and continue feeding, causing damage into late fall and winter. However, the most severe damage comes from animal feeding throughout the fall, winter and early spring in turf areas where the larvae were not controlled with late spring to summer insecticide applications. Unlike ABW, insecticide resistance has not been documented in white grubs and likely will not occur since they have only one generation per year. However, we are seeing population shifts in white grub species. Where Japanese beetles and northern or southern masked chafers were the most predominant species, we are now seeing more oriental beetles, Asiatic garden beetles and May/June beetles. Durentis™ insecticide (chlorantraniliprole) offers season-long control for white grubs and caterpillars like the fall armyworm. Durentis is backed by Envu, with guaranteed rescue treatment options should a breakthrough occur. A Durentis application during late April or early May can be added to the ABW programs discussed above, providing early-season and season-long control of surface feeding caterpillars.

Envu proudly supports the 2025 insecticide report administered by Golf Course Industry. If you have questions regarding controlling these pests or others on your golf course, our six technical specialists on the Green Solutions Team are a phone call, email or text message away, as is our nationwide team of area sales managers.

Let us know how we can help!

Envu Green Solutions Team