Effects of Lightweight Rolling, Sand Topdressing, and Insecticide on the Rhodesgrass Mealybug (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) on Golf Course Putting Greens1

Abstract

Rhodesgrass mealybug, Antonina graminis Maskell (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), is an important pest on golf course putting greens. Antonina graminis feeding causes extensive yellowing and browning that causes turfgrass mortality. Lightweight rolling and sand topdressing are standard cultural practices on the golf course; however, it is unclear whether they can reduce A. graminis densities and provide additional suppression when combined with insecticide. Thus, the objectives of the study were to determine the effects of (a) lightweight rolling and sand topdressing and (b) combining these practices with a systemic insecticide, thiamethoxam, on A. graminis densities on golf course putting greens. In 2021 and 2022, experiments were conducted in a split-plot design where lightweight rolling was the main plot treatment and sand topdressing, insecticide, sand topdressing + insecticide, and nontreated were subplot treatments. The numbers of A. graminis were not significantly affected by rolling treatment in the 2021 and 2022 experiments. Similarly, the sand topdressing alone had no significant effect on the A. graminis densities on the putting greens. The numbers of A. graminis were significantly lower for the insecticide (thiamethoxam) and combination of sand topdressing + insecticide treatment than for the nontreated subplot.