Turf (3b): Turf Pest Management - Test
Your Knowledge Questions with correct
Answers
Name .some .of .the .factors .turfgrass .managers .must .consider .when .setting .pest .management .prioriti
es. .- .(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 .exa
mple, .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 .thr
esholds .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, .me
ans .the .tolerance .for .pests .is .low. .However .reliance .on .pesticide .use .may .not .be .acceptable .for .so
me .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, .dis
ease- .and .insect-
free .turfgrass. .When .possible, .plant .or .install .resistant .varieties. .Choosing .the .right .variety .for .the .si
te .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 .monitorin
g .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 .regu
lar .basis, .or .has .a .particular .pest .that .can .kill .or .disfigure .it .in .low .densities, .would .also .be .consider
ed .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 .lif
e .cycle .of .the .pest, .a .good .estimation .of .the .size .and .distribution .of .the .pest .population, .and .an .as
sessment .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 .progra
ms .use .many .types .of .techniques .in .a .single .plan .or .strategy .to .reduce .pests .and .keep .their .damag
e .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 .e
ncourage .natural .enemies .already .present .in .the .system. .Alternatively, .they .can .introduce .commerci
ally .produced .biological .organisms. .Biological .control .also .includes .the .use .of .pheromones .or .juvenil
e .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 .mov
e .to .- .or .be .placed .in .contact .with .- .the .target .pest. .For .that .reason, .application .techniques .influenc
e .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 .preven
t .or .suppress .an .infestation. .Cultural .controls .make .the .pest .less .likely .to .survive, .grow, .or .reproduc
e. .They .can .involve .changing .the .turf .grass .environment .or .its .physical .condition. .Cultural .control .m
easures .may .also .change .the .behavior .of .a .pest. .In .turf, .variety .selection .and .proper .establishment .