Evaluation of Turfgrasses for Resistance to Mole Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae)

Bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.) and paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) genotypes were evaluated in laboratory, greenhouse, and field experiments for potential resistance to the common turfgrass pests, tawny mole cricket ( Scapteriscus vicinus Scudder) and southern mole cricket (Scapteriscus borellii Giglio-tos). Potential resistance among 21 seashore paspalums to both insects in an environmental chamber at 27 °C, 85% relative humidity, and 15 hours light/9 hours dark) revealed that Glenn Oaks 'Adalayd' was least tolerant of cricket injury, while 561-79, HI-1, and 'Excalibur' were most tolerant. Nymphal survival was not influenced by turfgrass type. Plant selections that maintained the highest percentage of their normal growth after 4 weeks of feeding by tawny mole crickets over three separate greenhouse trials were 561-79, HI-1, HI-2, PI-509018, 'Excalibur', SIPV-1 paspalums, and 'Tifeagle' and 'Tifsport' bermudagrasses. Although none of the tested genotypes was highly resistant to tawny mole cricket injury, 'TifSport' bermudagrass and 561-79 (Argentine) seashore paspalum were most tolerant.