Surface Application of Granular Insecticides for the Control of Mole Cricket Nymphs in North Carolina, 1996

A trial was conducted at the Fox Squirrel Country Club in Brunswick Co. to evaluate three granular insecticide formulations for the control of mole cricket nymphs. Test plots 25 ft X 25 ft were established on a bermudagrass fairway with a history of mole cricket infestations. Treatments were replicated 4 times and randomly assigned to the plots. Insecticides were applied on 10 Jul using a hand-held Republic EZ Handspreader®. Soil was moist at the time of application and 4 inch soil temperature was 89°F. The fairway irrigation system was used to apply approximately 0.25 inch of water to the test site following application. Examination of the plots the next day indicated that there was a high level of surface activity on the night of the application. The second of the split application of bifenthrin 0.05G treatment was given on 24 Jul and was followed by 0.25 inch of irrigation. Soil temperature on this date was 89°F. Soil at the test site was classified as Kureb fine sand with a pH of 6.1 and 0.41% humic matter. Sampling indicated that the fairway population was approximately 78% S. borellii and 22% S. vicinus. Plots were evaluated for fresh mole cricket damage on 31 Jul, 14 and 29 Aug, and 19 Sep, using the damage grid evaluation method developed by Dr. Pat Cobb at Auburn University. Five random m2 ratings (0-9) were made in each plot on each sample date. The actual damage means are reported in the table. All data were transformed x + 0.5 prior to ANOVA and Tukey’s Studentized Range Test.