Advice Sheet - Insects and Pests

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Billbug (Sphenophorus brunnipennis)

• Situation: Sports fields, turf farms, golf fairways and tees, and parks.
• Occurrence: Early summer to late spring, larvae tunnel into stems and feed on turf grass causing major damage.
  

African Black Beetle (Heteronychus arator)

• Situation: All turf grass: turf farms, sports fields, golf courses, bowling greens, and recreational parks.
• Occurrence: Larvae occur from early spring to mid summer and cause damage to turf roots. Adult mounds greatly disrupt playing surfaces due to tunnelling.

Armyworm (Spodoptera spp.)

• Situation: All turf grass species, sports fields, parks and golf courses.
• Occurrence: Occurs in late summer, feeding at night, eating the leaf down to the crown of the plant. Very damaging when in large numbers.

Sod Webworm (Herpetogramma licarsisalis)

• Situation: All turf grass species, sports fields, parks and golf courses.
• Occurrence: Tends to appear after turf grass renovation in summer. Obvious damage around core holes.