Spatial Distribution of Hunting Billbugs (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Sod Farms

Abstract

The hunting billbug, Sphenophorus venatus vestitus Chittenden (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is an important turfgrass pest, especially in sod farms. S. venatus vestitus larvae feed on the stems and roots of turfgrass. Damaged turfgrass is loosely held together and poses a challenge for machine harvesting. Additionally, the normal growth of turfgrass is affected, especially after winter dormancy. Because S. venatus vestitus larvae are hidden inside the stems or under the soil, larval management is challenging. To improve sampling and management, the spatial distribution patterns of S. venatus vestitus larvae and adults were assessed at four sod farm sites with a history of S. venatus vestitus infestation in central Georgia (USA). The larvae were sampled by soil cores using a hole cutter, whereas adults were collected using pitfall traps for 7 d. The spatial distributions of larvae and adults was analyzed using SADIE and variograms. The SADIE and variogram analyses revealed a significant aggregation pattern for adults, whereas aggregated distributions were detected for larvae with variogram analyses. The average ranges of spatial dependence for larval and adult samples were 3.9 m and 5.4 m, respectively. Interpolated distribution maps were created to visually depict S. venatus vestitus infestation hotspots within the sod farms.

Spatio‐temporal distribution of Anthonomus grandis grandis Boh. in tropical cotton fields

“…Similar to other studies on curculionid spatial distributions, 11,50 the boll weevil exhibited a moderate to strong aggregated pattern for adults and for infested reproductive structures. This suggests relatively slow in-field dispersal of adults when plants offer plenty of structures for food and as oviposition sites; 51 hence, there is no impetus to move farther away.…”

Geostatistical analysis of fall armyworm damage and edaphoclimatic conditions of a mosaic of agroecosystems predominated by push-pull systems

“…The spherical model was better fitted to the phytosanitary variables and the Gaussian to the edaphoclimatic variables (Table 4). This result agrees with those of Ramírez-Dávila et al (2002), according to which the spherical model is recommended to interpolate plants harmful agents, and Farias et al (2008), for wh om t he most representative model for FAW spatial dependence was also t h e sph erical on e. Th e adjustment of t h e spherical model to incidence (FAI1, FAI2, and FAI3) and severity (FAS) variables indicates that FAW distribution occurs in an aggregate way (Gireesh et al, 2021), being possible to observe areas of higher incidence or severity. These areas are the points of monoculture establishments (negative con trol) t hat did n ot receive treatment to control the pest (green areas of Figures 7 and 8).…”

A review of precision management for golf course turfgrass

“…Gireesh et al. (2021) reported that hunting billbug ( Sphenophorus venatus vestitus ) larval population exhibited 12.8 ft range of spatial dependence and suggested that georeferenced 13.1‐ft samples should accurately quantify the spatial variability of hunting billbug population on sod farms.…”

“…Diaz and Peck (2007) reported that location of annual bluegrass weevil varied among the type of habitat on golf courses with higher populations in higher mown rough, than lower mown putting greens. Gireesh et al (2021) reported that hunting billbug (Sphenophorus venatus vestitus) larval population exhibited 12.8 ft range of spatial dependence and suggested that georeferenced 13.1-ft samples should accurately quantify the spatial variability of hunting billbug population on sod farms.…”