Comparison of Development and Feeding Amount of the Black Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) on Zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) and Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera)

Dong Gon Lee1   Hee Been Na1   Dong Soo Kim2   Dong Woon  Lee2,*   

1Department of Ecological Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Republic of Korea.
2Forest Biomaterials Research Center, National Institute of Forest Science, Jinju 52817, Republic of Korea.

Abstract

The black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) is the main lepidopteran pest of turfgrasses as well as crops. This study was conducted to investigate the feeding and preference of black cut worm in zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica) and creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) which are mainly composed in Korean golf courses for provide basic data for control. Both the 3rd instar and 4th instar of black cut worm were more abundant in the creeping bentgrass than in the zoysiagrass. Body weight gain was also higher in creeping bentgrass feeding individuals. The preference for creeping bentgrass and zoysiagrass was twice as high as for creeping bentgrass. It is considered that the life history of black cut worm will be diversified at the golf course where the two grass species coexist due differences in preference and growth for both turfgrass species. Therefore, intensive management of creeping bentgrass is required in these golf courses.

Figures & Tables

Fig. 1.Daily feeding amount (A) and weight change (B) of 3rd instar black cutworms depending on fed different turfgrass species in Petri-dish. Bar was standard deviation.