DuPont has launched www.weeviltrak.com, where 11 university researchers and cooperators are sharing regular updates for superintendents on the annual bluegrass weevil activity in their respective areas. Superintendents can click on their locations or enter their ZIP codes to read the observations of their local researchers. The updates will be based on degree-day monitoring, the state of forsythia bloomage and on the findings of the researchers (i.e. if there are larvae and what stage they are at).
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Researchers also provide advice on optimal timing recommendations for preventative applications of DuPont Acelepryn and DuPont Provant insecticides. The researchers will analyze turf samples from more than 30 monitoring sites throughout Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia.
The sites researchers and cooperators include:
Dr. Steve Alm, University of Rhode Island
Rod Ferrentino, Ferrentino & Co.
Dr. Paul Heller, Penn State University
Dr. Albrecht Koppenhofer, Rutgers University
Dr. Dan Peck, Cornell University
Dr. Chuck Silcox, DuPont Professional Products
Steve McDonald, Turfgrass Disease Solutions
Dr. Stan Swier, University of New Hampshire
Dr. Pat Vittum, University of Massachusetts
Dr. Chris Williamson, University of Wisconsin
Dr. Rod Youngman, Virginia Tech
“DuPont is committed to helping superintendents be successful at a time when many are facing budgetary challenges,” said Chuck Silcox, the global product development manager for turf and ornamental at DuPont Professional Products. “We want superintendents to make every application count – and take the guesswork out of application timing. Weevil Trak allows researchers to provide up-to-the-minute ABW information directly to superintendents, and provide guidance that can make a real difference to the superintendents’ success.”
The timing of ABW activity is highly dependent on weather and other key factors. The optimal application of DuPont Acelepryn and DuPont Provant is also based as much on weather and other factors as it is on the calendar. Superintendents who rely primarily on the calendar for their application timing decisions can make critical mistakes that affect the performance of their pesticides. Weevil Trak has been designed to help superintendents make better application decisions based on several data points so that they are able to achieve the best possible performance of Acelepryn and Provant.