Recent Posts
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Georgia’s summer heat combined with high humidity are favorable conditions for gray leaf spot infection Gray leaf spot is a fungus disease that affects St. Augustinegrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue in Georgia. Hot humid summer weather and high nitrogen levels can make turf susceptible to this disease. The fungus causing the disease is Pyricularia…
Posted in: Turfgrass disease -
False oleander scale (FOS), Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli (Fig. 1), is an invasive armored scale species native to China. It is prevalent in Georgia and poses a significant threat as a pest in ornamental nurseries. FOS primarily infests the leaves of plants, appearing as white spots (Fig. 2). As armored scales, they spend their entire lives inserting their…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
European hornets (Vespa crabro) are widespread across the eastern United States. Native to Europe and Asia, they were introduced to North America in the mid-1800s. This hornet is the largest species in the U.S. and is particularly common in Georgia. It is also known as the brown or giant hornet. In 2019, the northern giant…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
The tent caterpillars (Malacosoma spp.; Lepidoptera; Lasiocampidae) are distributed widely in tropical and temperate regions. Originally, tent caterpillars were placed in the genus Bombyx, but in 1820, the genus was changed to Malacosoma (Latin word: malakos -soft; soma – body). The common name of the tent caterpillar is derived from the tent-like silk structure built…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
Dollar Spot is Active. The dollar spot fungus (Clarireedia sp formerly Sclerotinia homoeocarpa) is now active this 2025 spring. We have seen active infections in bermudagrass and seashore paspalum in our UGA Griffin campus research plots as well as several bermdagrass lawns in the area. Dollar spot can produce infections on warm season grass as…
Posted in: Turfgrass disease -
Carpenter bees (Fig. 1) can be a serious pest on outdoor structures made of wood, such as patios, decks, sidings of homes, sheds, furniture, etc. Large carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica is the most common species found in Georgia. Adult carpenter bees are pollinators, but mated females bore tunnels into wooden structures to rear their larvae.…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
The invasive elm zigzag sawfly (EZS, Aproceros leucopoda; Fig. 1), also known as East Asian sawfly, elm sawfly, and zigzag sawfly, is a small wasp native to Japan, Russia, China, and the Korean peninsula. In 2003, EZS was accidentally introduced to Europe. Since then, it has spread rapidly to many countries in Europe. In the…
Posted in: Ornamental pests -
We recently received physical and digital samples of dormant or quasi-dormant bermudagrass having patches of grayish-white to cream patches in color. The patches ranged from 4-15 inches (10-40 cm) in diameter and in some cases coalesced to form bigger patches. Similar symptoms were also noted on our “TifEagle” research green located at the University of…
Posted in: Turfgrass disease -
Bermudagrass mite, Eriophyes cynodoniensis (Fig. 1) is eriophyid mite species only infest and feed on bermudagrass (Cynadon spp.). It can develop into a serious problem in golf courses, athletic fields, sod farms, and residential and public lawns. The bermudagrass mite infestation can reduce the aesthetic value of the turfgrass, as it can cause thinning and…
Posted in: Turfgrass insect pest -
Summary Spring dead spot continues to be a major problem for turfgrass managers in Georgia. It is one of the more difficult diseases to manage because acceptable control is usually not obtained in a single season. Selecting proper nitrogen and potassium fertilization, thatch management and soil conditioning are important cultural practices that can help in…