Research Update

The Turfgrass Entomology Laboratory

We are currently managing multiple projects across Pennsylvania including annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) resistance to insecticides, earthworm biology and cultural control, and insecticide trials targeting multiple pests. PhD candidate Garrett Price is investigating how insecticide resistance may be affected by insect gut microbiome. His work is critical to determining how resistance evolves and may provide solutions for reversing resistance in pests like ABW. Audrey Simard joined the lab prior to the pandemic and is now ramping up her project investigating turfgrasses’ defense against herbivory. We hope to use her findings to develop strategies to prime plants in advance of insect feeding to reduce insecticide load and/or assist in breeding better defended turfgrasses.

We have also been busy travelling to various field sites to scout for insects. As expected, we have observed some lingering damage from chinch bugs (from end of summer 2020) on turf failing to green-up in spring. We are continuing to monitor these populations with environmental conditions. Areas affected by chinch bug in 2020 grow larger should the spring continue to track on the warmer and drier side. We are also waiting to see whether the large crane fly flights in Fall 2020 translate into greater amounts damaged turf (~ April-May 2021).

Lastly, Danny Kline has been diligently working on getting our laboratory website up and running:

plantscience.psu.edu/research /labs/turfgrass-entomology

We hope to post news stories, research publications, and turfgrass insect factsheets throughout the year.