Mechanical Control of White Grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabidae) in Turfgrass Using Aerators

Abstract

We used the spatial distribution of white grubs in 100 observations to simulate, in a computer program, the potential mortality caused by 221 different hole patterns of commercial turfgrass aerators. Hole patterns arranged in a distribution (5.08–cm × 5.08–cm) with tine diameters of 2.54 and 1.90 cm were able to produce a grub mortality of >40%. The efficiency of these designs, as measured by the overall percentage of mortality under moderate and light grub infestation was considerably high. The results also show that the percentage area made by aerator holes is not directly proportional to mortality; the distribution of holes is as important as the area affected by them. The use of turfgrass aerators with appropriate hole patterns can reduce subterranean pest populations to manageable levels and should be considered in integrated pest management programs.