Turf (3b): Turf Pest Management
UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Name some of the factors turfgrass managers must consider when setting pest management
priorities. - Correct Answer- Turfgrass management professionals must consider human
safety, environmental safety, turf use(s), efficacy, and economics.
Why do pest management thresholds in turf vary? - Correct Answer- Pest thresholds vary
from site to site because they depend on site characteristics and uses. For example, there may
be zero tolerance for pests of any sort on a gold green. On the other hand, there may be no
great need to control pests in the grassy areas of an industrial site. However, setting
thresholds in some sites - like a school athletic field or playground - may not be simple and
clear-cut. A thick, uniform surface is ideal for play areas, for optimum utility and safety. This,
in turn, means the tolerance for pests is low. However reliance on pesticide use may not be
acceptable for some recreational sites, especially if the primary users of that site are children.
What is the first, most basic step to take to manage pest problems? Explain your answer. -
Correct Answer- Use Best Management Practices (BMPs) for initial design, installation, and
maintenance programs. Begin by selecting high quality, disease- and insect-free turfgrass.
When possible, plant or install resistant varieties. Choosing the right variety for the site and
use(s) is essential. Next, good cultural practices provide the best conditions for plant health.
Why should you focus your attention on key pests, key varieties, or key locations? - Correct
Answer- They are most likely to cause problems. Key pests, varieties, and locations require
special monitoring and care.
What is a "key pest"? - Correct Answer- A key pest is one that often reaches population
densities that justify management, and/or is capable of causing unacceptable damage at
relatively low densities, and/or attacks and damages turfgrass(es) in conspicuous or valuable
areas.
What is a "key variety"? - Correct Answer- A "key variety" has a special "high profile" use. A
variety that sustains damage from pests on a regular basis, or has a particular pest that can kill
or disfigure it in low densities, would also be considered a "key variety."
, Describe a site that would be considered a key location. - Correct Answer- Key locations are
heavily used or are significant in some way. Areas where turfgrasses have chronic problems
with pests, and/or areas that are near something or someone requiring special protection are
"key locations."
Name several things you need to make an accurate diagnosis of a pest problem. - Correct
Answer- Description of the type and extent of plant damage, identification of the pest,
familiarity with the life cycle of the pest, a good estimation of the size and distribution of the
pest population, and an assessment of whether it is increasing or decreasing.
Define the term "Integrated Pest Management." List IPM tactics used in turfgrass pest
control. - Correct Answer- Integrated Pest Management refers to the use of a combination of
pest control tactics. IPM programs use many types of techniques in a single plan or strategy
to reduce pests and keep their damage to an acceptable level. IPM tactics include monitoring
and early detection, sanitation, and cultural, mechanical (physical), biological, and chemical
control methods.
What is biological control? Give one example. - Correct Answer- Biological control involves
using some aspect of the pest's biology to control it. One example is the uyse of natural
enemies, biological agents that control a pest. Turfgrass managers can preserve or encourage
natural enemies already present in the system. Alternatively, they can introduce commercially
produced biological organisms. Biological control also includes the use of pheromones or
juvenile hormones to control insects.
What are some factors that influence the success of biological controls? - Correct Answer-
Biological control agents usually target specific pests. Biological control agents must be able
to move to - or be placed in contact with - the target pest. For that reason, application
techniques influence success. Adoption of biological control measures usually takes careful
planning and timing. Finally, biological control organisms must be able to tolerate conditions
at the site. To be sustainable, they must persist from season to season.
What is cultural control? List several cultural control tactics used in turf. - Correct Answer-
Cultural control measures disrupt the normal relationship between pest and host in order to
prevent or suppress an infestation. Cultural controls make the pest less likely to survive,
grow, or reproduce. They can involve changing the turf grass environment or its physical
condition. Cultural control measures may also change the behavior of a pest. In turf, variety
selection and proper establishment are basic cultural control measures. Other practices
employed in turf include thatch management and proper mowing, watering, and fertilization
regimes. Aerating soil and cultivation practices that improve water infiltration (spiking,
vertical mowing, or coring) can help.
