Pests & Diseases


B


iological control through the use of entomopathogenic nematodes is the only legally available option in regards to chafer grubs and leatherjackets in turf surfaces


across the UK. Nematodes, when used correctly as part of an integrated approach, have proven successful over a number of years.


A successful outcome with nematodes


requires a greater depth of knowledge and a greater number of considered steps than a simple chemical approach of: see, decant, apply, kill - (old model). An integrated approach requires


knowledge of the pest’s life cycle, the control’s life cycle, establishment of


acceptable thresholds of pest incidence and damage, highlighting of priority zones for treatment, monitoring of the pest life cycle, key timing of the control and knowledge of the specific factors required to promote the best outcome, all backed up by subsequent monitoring of efficacy. The sum total of which is nicely logged and recorded to assist in future decision making and forecasting of activity - (new model). In the end, all that is meant by an


integrated approach is multiple strategies working collaboratively to achieve a given outcome.


One of the major justifications for the


unsuitability of biological controls is cost. It is true to say that biological controls are


more expensive than chemical controls. However, that is compounded when they are judged against the old model; that is to say, treat everything, kill everything, job done. The new model requires monitoring,


establishment of thresholds and targeted application to highly vulnerable or high priority areas. For example, in reality, do all greens need to be treated or are some greens or fairways more prone to infestation, whilst others historically go relatively untouched? As a result, those are the areas we treat as part of an integrated approach and we closely monitor the others. Written down, an integrated approach


might seem overwhelming when compared to the old model. The human disposition in


PC JUNE/JULY 2017 I 111


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156