·       Several Of Insects And Mites Are Found To Be Associated With Lawn, But Not All Of Them Cause Considerable Economic Or Aesthetic Damage. Insects Like White Grubs, Sod Web Worm, Chink Bug, Armyworm, Cutworms, Greenbugs And Ants Cause Considerable Damage And Require Immediate Control Measures. These Insects Are Not Uniformly Distributed Throughout The Land Cover, But They Occur Sporadically In Concentric Spots. Diagnosis Of Insect Damage, Correct Identification Of Insect And Regular Monitoring Of Insect Population And Need Based Application Of Correct Control Measures Are The Key Factors In Effective Management Of Lawn Pests.

The Insects Causing Economic Damage To The Lawn Can Be Grouped Based On Their Habit Into

·       Subsurface Feeding Insects, Which Feed On Roots, Thatch. Eg.: Root Grubs, Mole Cricket, Termites.

·       Surface Feeding Insects, Which Feed On Foliage. Eg.: Armyworm, Cutworm, Chinch Bug And Greenbug.

I Subsurface Feeding Insects

·       Root Grub: The Beetles Are Polyphagous Pests. These Beetles Are Prolamin Light Sandy And Sandy Loom Soils. They Lay Eggs In Soil. The Grubs Feed On Rootlets Due To Which It Dries Up In Patches. Grubs Feeding On Roots Cause Yellowing And Wilting Appearance Which Could Be Misdiagnosed As A Nutrient Deficiency, Which Ultimately Leads To Gradual Thinning And Death Of The Lawn. When Turf Is Easily Pulled From The Soil And Roots Are Damaged, It Is Likely That The Grubs Are Responsible For Damage. When Lawn Is Cut About 2 Inches Deep At The Edge Of Discolored Area And Rolled Back, If The Roots Are Chewed Off And Grubs Are Present In The Soil Confirms The Root Grub Infestation.

·       Control Measures: The Root Grubs Are Difficult To Control By Means Of Insecticide Application As They Are Protected By Thatch.

o   Bioagents Like Heterorhabditis Spp., Steinernema Spp., Bacillus Subtilis Can Be Applied At Monthly Intervals For Augmentation Of These Bioagents. Proper Moisture Content Has To Be Maintained For Development Of These Bioagents. Once They Are Well Established, Will Check The Root Grub Population Buildup.

o   Apply Insecticides Like Quinalphos (0.05%) Or Carbofuran (0.05%) Or Phorate 10 G @ 10 Kg/Ha Followed By Proper Irrigation To Allow The Percolation Of Insecticides To Grub Feeding Zone Will Also Check The Root Grub Problem.

·       Mole Cricket: These Insects Feeds On Grass. The Female Lays About 100 Eggs In Chambers In Soil. The Nymphs Grow Slowly By Undergoing 8 Moulds At Monthly Intervals. The Insects Damage The Lawn Grass By Burrowing And Feeding On Roots.

·       Control Measures: Adults Of Mole Cricket Are Active For Few Hours During Dawn And Dusk Hours And Are Attracted To Light. A Light Trap Can Be Used For The Monitoring Of Adult Activity.

o   Dust The Lawn With Malathion 5 Per Cent @ Of 10 Kg/Acre Or Phorate 10 G @ 10 Kg/Ha Followed By Proper Irrigation.

·       Termite: Termites Are Polyphagous Pest Which Attack Roots Of Lawn Grass. The Lawn Look Like Wilt And Dry In Patches At The Site Of Attack.

·       Control Measures:

o   Soil Drenching With Chlorpyriphos (0.05%) Or Malathion (0.1%) Before Planning The Lawn.

o   Application Of Imidacloprid 30.5SC (0.075%) On Affected Area.

II Surface Feeding Insects

·       Armyworm: Young Larvae Feed On Tender Leaves By Skeletonizing The Foliage. Grownup Larvae Feed On Whole Plant Leaving Circular Bare Area In The Turf. Larvae Are Distributed Uniformly Over A Large Area. These Insects Will Be Active During Early Morning Or Late Evening Hours.

·       Cutworm: The Larva Dig A Burrow In The Ground Or Thatch, Emerge At Night And Cut The Grass Blades Off Close To The Ground Level In A Circular Pattern Around The Burrow. Feeding Produces Brown Spots Of 1 – 2 Inches In Diameter And Appears As Circular Spots Of Dead Grass Or Depressed Spots That Look Like Ball Marks.

·       Control Measures For Armyworm And Cutworm : Adults Of Mole Cricket Are Active For Few Hours During Dawn And Dusk Hours And Are Attracted To Light. A Light Trap Can Be Used For The Monitoring Of Adult Activity.

o   Application Of Acephate (0.05%) Or Carbaryl(0.1%) Or Indoxacarb(0.1%) Or Spinosad(0.05%)

·       Chinch Bugs: These Insects Feed By Sucking The Sap From Grass Stem And Foliage. Damage Starts As Small, Yellow Or Brown Discolored Areas. Injured Plants Look Stunted, Yellowed, Wilted Or Dead. Yellowish To Brown Patches Are Often Noticed Along Sidewalks. The Young Ones Found In Patches Throughout The Lawn And Prefer Dry Area. Young Ones Will Be Abundant In Thatch And Adults Will Come To The Surface Between The Plants. Floatation Method Can Be Used For Monitoring The Chinch Bug Population, In Which, A Cylinder With Two Sides Open May Be Inserted Into The Lawn Till The Soil Surface And Filled With Water, In 10 Minutes The Chinch Bugs Will Float To The Surface.

·       Control Measures:

o   Soil Drenching With Quinalphos (0.05%) Or Malathion (0.1%) In The Infested Area.

·       Green Bugs: Tiny Insects Present In Dozen On Plant Especially On Tender Foliage. These Insects Suck The Sap Continuously. The Infested Plants Look Sick Appearance, Discoloration And Wilting Of Affected Parts.

·       Control Measures:

o   Spot Application Of Monocrotophos (0.05%) Or Ox Demeton Methyl (0.05%).

o   Soil Drenching With Chlorpyriphos (0.1%) Or Malathion (0.1%) In The Infested Area.