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A great tool in the fight against annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) just got better. Syngenta announced upgrades to its WeevilTrak (weeviltrak.com) platform. The key to a successful annual bluegrass weevil control program is proper decision-making on the timing of treatments early in the season. WeevilTrak alerts registered users on the optimum time to control weevils.
- Three new independent researchers have been added as consultants, including Dr. Albert Koppenhofer, Rutgers University; Dr. Ben McGraw, Penn State; and Dr. Rick Brandenburg, NCSU. “We’re excited to have more insights and research coming in from the field,” says Mark LaFleur, Syngenta spokesman.
- Next, a dedicated blog section has been added that will be populated by posts from WeevilTrak researchers. “Each researcher has anywhere from two to six courses that they’re following for ABW,” LaFleur says. “Since WeevilTrak is a guide, the researches will be reporting back on what they’re seeing when their doing their course visits. The blog will be every bit as important as the notifications we put out.
- Syngenta has reassessed its WeevilTrak courses to more accurately represent the spread and scope of ABW pressure from North Carolina, to Maine and out to Ohio.
- In past years, WeevilTrak researchers were engaged for the first generation of adult ABW. This year, that research has extended into subsequent summer generations. “In the past, summer generation projections have been based on models, which is a good guide,” LaFleur says. “Extending researchers to track summer generations through the blog is critical for people to follow what’s happening… and this will really help with providing superintendents with better intel than from just using models.”
- Lastly, Syngenta rebuilt its program for Ference – an ABW control insecticide launched last year – for use beyond first generation ABW and to incorporate it use to get season-long control. “Syngenta has a product that controls all larval stages,” LaFleur says. “And it serves as a resistance management strategy, as well, to really save ABW control options down the road.”
WeevilTrak provides superintendents with data on how to make the decisions that are right for their courses, LaFleur adds. “Even if superintendents aren’t following our program or using our products, WeevilTrak educates on ABW and provides the data superintendents can use to improve their course conditions.”
