Topdressing practices for grass-grub control

Topdressing Turf with Compost

POPULATION STUDIES OF GRASS GRUB (Costelytra zealandica) AND BLACK BEETLE (Heteronychus arator) (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE)

Population studies of grass grub and black beetle have revealed simple patterns of population determination. Populations fluctuate in response to variations in soil moisture and temperature. The upper limit to population growth is set by density dependent factors (larval mortality of grass grub and variation in natality of black beetle). Parasites and predators appear to be generally unimportan...

Cloning Serratia entomophila antifeeding genes--a putative defective prophage active against the grass grub Costelytra zealandica.

Serratia entomophila and Serratia proteamaculans (Enterobacteriaceae) cause amber disease in the grass grub Costelytra zealandica (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), an important pasture pest in New Zealand. Larval disease symptoms include cessation of feeding, clearance of the gut, amber coloration, and eventual death. A 155-kb plasmid, pADAP, carries the genes sepA, sepB, and sepC, which are essentia...

Control Techniques for Practices

Management practices to overcome the incidence of grass tetany.

To minimize the incidence of grass tetany, winter pastures should be established on soils containing Mg-rich minerals, drainage should be improved on five-textured soils, legumes should be included in the sward and soil pH should be at least 5.5. Liming acid soils with dolomitic lime increases forage Mg by supplying Mg and by raising soil pH. Calcitic lime applications also can increase Mg avai...