I received this email question about alternative grub control insecticides. There is an erroneous philosophy being perpetuated that because we have European chafers and Japanese beetles in the area, it is necessary to treat every year or your lawn will be damaged by grubs. They will not work on grubs found in the lawn from the middle of October through the middle of May. Consider carefully whether it would be best to wait and apply a preventive later. Both Bayer Advanced Grub Control and Bayer Advanced Grub Killer Plus are marketed to those battling with turf-destroying white grubs. Time for me to put down my grub control but in the process I found out some key important information. Insecticides used for grubs can be separated into two groups based on how they work: preventive chemicals and curative chemicals. In addition, grub control products that contain the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole are safe for bees, even when weed flowers are sprayed. Sometimes the best offense is the best defense. One of the most common questions we get from late Spring … However, that is ancient history now, and there are three reasons why the Milky Spore product which can be purchased at garden centers may not be appropriate for a home lawn treatment: Although Japanese beetles have been found near you in Petoskey, it is more likely that people in your area will have June beetle grubs or European chafer grubs. However, Japanese beetles could become common in Petoskey over the next 10 years. Before discussing alternative management strategies for grubs, it is important to understand that if grubs and turf damage are discovered in April, the only insecticides that will be effective in April are carbaryl (Sevin) and trichlorfon (Dylox). We have had questions from our customers at our garden center here in Petoskey about the Milky Spore granular product by St. Gabriel Laboratories and I am having a hard time getting the facts. By the end of October, they are fully grown. A half-inch of irrigation is when lawn sprinklers are run until a container like a coffee mug, or several mugs, fills to a level 0.5 inches up from the bottom of the cup. However, even trichlorfon should not be evaluated for at least five days after application (assuming it rains or irrigation was applied), and carbaryl may need three to four weeks to be effective. Below is a short list of products now being sold for grub control as of May 22, 2020, in stores checked in the Mid-Michigan area. I will put grubex down next spring as a preventer, I just needed something to kill the grubs now. For quick kill now, Dylox (trichlorfon) is considered most effective with Sevin (carbaryl) as second. These two insecticides are the only options if high numbers of grubs are found in the fall and in spring before early May. Chemical Action and Usages: Dylox is an organophosphate insecticide in a granular form for use on lawns to control mole crickets, sod webworms, cutworms, grubs and other listed insects in turf. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. They are preventive products that work very well on newly hatched grubs present in July, but do not work well for large grubs found from September to May. The profusion of different products can be rather mystifying. Products containing only these ingredients will not work for grub control because the active ingredient binds with organic material and will not move down to where the grubs are feeding. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707. setting your lawn mower at the highest clipping height, returning grass clippings and chopped leaves to the lawn. Apply chlorantraniliprole early (in April or May) for summer and fall grub control. Regionally, European chafers are a much bigger problem than they used to be. Both compounds work equally well on Japanese beetle grubs. Our research has indicated that carbaryl has been a little more effective on European chafer grubs than trichlorfon. Our customers are looking for alternatives to the chemical options (especially with the publicity concerning honeybees) and I am hoping to help them find some. Although the bag often says apply anytime from May to Aug. 15, it is highly recommended that products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin be applied and irrigated into the soil in June or July. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. Bayer Advanced Season-Long Grub Control (or Bayer Advanced Merit) - Granular, Bayer Advanced Season-Long Grub Control and Turf Revitalizer - Granular, Premium Grub Control (Do not confuse with “Premium Insect Control”), Bayer Advanced Complete Insect Killer Liquid attach-to-hose-bottle, Bayer Advanced Complete Insect Killer Granules - Granular, Bayer Advanced 24 hr Grub Killer Plus - Granular, Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer for Lawns - Granular. Preventive products are the most effective. Also, in the last two years several products have become available in an attach-to-hose bottle and are automatically mixed with water when applied. At one garden center a clerk showed us two products, one containing only permethrin and one containing only bifenthrin, when we asked for products to control grubs. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. Some people may want to consider a one-time treatment with a nematode that infects grubs: Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. Healthy turf with a few grubs may not need an insecticide. Here’s how to choose and use the right one for your lawn. Before doing anything, it is important to make sure the problem is grubs. European chafers are generally found in drier turf and their population levels will fluctuate depending upon how wet or dry the weather was the previous summer. An online search indicates there are other products that will be available at other stores. Potter. There are no scientific studies conducted at any university that I know of where the Milky Spore product that is now available provided adequate grub control. It is best to apply the nematodes when grubs are present and when the soil temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. According to Cornell University, the milky spore organism, Paenibacillus popilliae, was the focus of a huge Japanese beetle biocontrol program 60 to 70 years ago, with over 100 tons of spore powder distributed throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio and surrounding states where Japanese beetle occurred at the time. Some of these products come in a granular formulation that is applied with a fertilizer spreader or some products are designed to be mixed with water and sprayed. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa have now joined the club of Midwest states with lots of Japanese beetles, and they have been found in isolated locations as far west as Colorado. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. Easily apply with a Scotts broadcast, drop, handheld, or Wizz … Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. A single application of Scotts GrubEx stops A single application of Scotts GrubEx stops grubs all season long. There are two chemicals, carbaryl and trichlorfon, that are considered curative treatments. Always wear rubber gloves and rubber boots when applying insecticides to turfgrass. Our results so far agree with the results of a test conducted a number of years ago in Kentucky by C.T. The critical issue with any grub control product is the active ingredient. Alternatives: Synthetic Chemical Inhibitors - Preventative Curative Control •Organophosphates - Dylox® (Bayer has voluntarily canceled its production of most products containing the chemical), Diazinon® (off residential market) and ... (Acelepryn® & GrubEx … Now it has spread throughout Ohio, Michigan (all of the Lower and half of the Upper Peninsula), northern Indiana and into eastern Illinois. More research is needed on this, but it could cause problems for native bees or have long-term health effects on honey bees or bumble bees. Dave Smitley, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Entomology - Products containing imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin or chlorantraniloprole will not control grubs in the spring. David Smitley, Terry Davis and Erica Hotchkiss, Michigan State University, Department of Entomology - However, if the grub population is high or if there is a history of damage in an area, it may be necessary to consider using an insecticide for grub control. It will take 10-14 days for the grubs to begin dying after the insecticide is applied. Potter. Dylox 6.2 Granular Insecticide Pests Controlled. As a professional lawn care service we get a lot of questions about lawn maintenance. It kills 25% more grub types vs. original GrubEx. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. Redmond and D.A. One is the chemical approach. Use the right rate/amount of product. We don’t seem to be getting as many calls about lawns damaged by Japanese beetle grubs in the southern half of the Lower Peninsula, south of Lansing, but we are getting more calls from the northern Lower Peninsula as Japanese beetles continue to spread northward. This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. … They spend the winter as large grubs (0.75 inches long) some 2-6 inches below the soil surface. Use Dylox 6.2 Granular Insecticide … It is important to realize that healthy turf, supported by frequent rain or irrigation, can support a grub population of five or more grubs per square foot with no visible turf damage. However, for low-maintenance lawns, even if the turf is not killed from grub feeding, the thinned and weakened turf may be prone to weeds and drought stress. If you see a dead patch, use a shovel to dig up a few Frisbee-size samples of turf around the bare spot to a depth of 2 inches and look for 0.75-inch long, C-shaped white grubs. The standard, and highly effective, grub control insecticides are products that contain imidacloprid, clothianidin or thiomethoxam. Before discussing alternative management strategies for grubs, it is important to understand that if grubs and turf damage are discovered in April, the only insecticides that will be effective in April are carbaryl (Sevin) and trichlorfon (Dylox). Scotts GrubEx Grub Killer and Preventer . They can be abundant in non-irrigated home lawns if we receive frequent rain in July, but are scarce in lawns that are very dry in July and early August. Kills on contact: active ingredient Dylox kills grubs on contact. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Use them in June or July to control grubs that would be damaging turf in the fall. They are not as effective as the preventive compounds in reducing grub numbers. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. Lawns with a large, dense root system are much less likely to be damaged by grubs, and it is much more difficult for skunks and raccoons to dig and turn-over turf with a healthy root system. A third concern is the rate at which the insecticide is applied. Not all the grub control products on store shelves will be effective this spring. Have there been any studies done on its effectiveness? Entomol. If there is nothing flowering in the lawn, there is nothing in it that would attract bees. Do not use products containing ONLY lambda-cyhalothrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin or permethrin for grub control. Research tests over the last 25 years have clearly shown that watering immediately after application helps to obtain good results. I went to the garden store and picked up some bayer 24 hour grub killer plus with dylox. Store insecticide products in a locked cabinet not accessible to children. Current research also shows that watering with 0.5 inches of irrigation immediately after the application is essential to get effective results from these insecticides. The milky spore pathogen may not be as virulent to Japanese grubs now as it was in the 1940s during the. As with the preventive products, lawns should be mowed immediately before applying carbaryl or trichlorfon to protect bees. Jeffrey W. Dwyer, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. This is a highly effective systemic insecticide that kills the target pests by both contact and ingestion. & grubGONE! If rub worms are already coming for the lush lawn, using a grub worm preventer like Scotts GrubEx Killer and Preventer will keep them at bay. Examples of products that contain these chemicals include Sevin® and Dylox®. Check out the MSU Turfgrass Management - Golf Course Certificate Program! The larvae of both species look almost identical. The eggs of both species hatch about 10 days after they are laid. Lack of efficacy of in-vivo and putatively in-vitro produced Paenibacillus popilliae against field populations of Japanese beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) grubs in Kentucky. The two most common are carbaryl, which is Sevin and trichlorfon, which is Dylox. You can find my answer below. Check the bag or bottle to determine what active ingredient the product contains. *What is 0.5 inches of irrigation? You can measure how much irrigation is applied by putting out several coffee cups in your lawn and run the irrigation until they fill to a half-inch level above the bottom. Use specified dosage of DYLOX 420 SL … Is the grub population here in northern Michigan likely to be other than from the Japanese beetle? Chlorantraniliprole can be applied as early as April and up to mid-July. If you order or purchase a live nematode product for grubs, make sure you buy a Heterorhabditis nematode and not a Steinernema or another type of nematode. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 4-H Name and Emblem have special protections from Congress, protected by code 18 USC 707. mowing your yard with the mower on the highest setting. Michael WillsonWillson's Garden CenterPetoskey, MI 49770. I found five to nine different products at each store. Do not use preventive compounds such as clothianidin, thiamethoxam or imidacloprid now. Check out the MSU Turfgrass Management - Golf Course Certificate Program! The second major concern is to make sure the insecticide is thoroughly watered into the ground with at least a half-inch of irrigation or rain immediately after the chemical is applied. ... GrubEx or Dylox… Applying them now will allow some of the chemical to leach through the turf or break down to the point that not enough insecticide will be there in July to control grubs. When watered properly, this product can even penetrate … GrubEx with the active ingredient chlorantraniliprole is used for preventive soil treatment. To activate Dylox you must immediately water the product into the soil with at least 1/2 to 1 inch of water. If you have treated for several years and you do not see evidence of grubs in your lawn or in the neighbor’s lawn, it may be time to stop treating. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464). 88: 846-854. I thought others may have the same question. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. There is little benefit to exceeding this rate, and doing so is also illegal. Both come in a ready to use granular formular that can be put out with a hand or push … Ingredients such as carbaryl, trichlorfon or zeta-cypermethrin are curative and work on contact with grubs. By the time I did further research and bought the BioAdvanced Grub Killer (due to having In Canada, it is a problem in Ontario and Vancouver, so Washington State is on the lookout for it also. Triazicide will not control grubs. Make sure they are alive when you when get them. It contains only lambda-cyhalothrin or gamma-cyhalothrin. Unfortunately, there are not any biological control products that you can purchase at the garden center that will give the same level of control as the standard insecticide products. Dylox 420 SL Insecticide treats surface feeding insects on lawns, landscape and recreational turf, such as golf courses. Curatives are used in the spring to target adult grubs. Unfortunately, the Milky Spore product you asked about did not provide any grub control in the first year of a test we are conducting at Old Channel Trail Golf Course near Ludington, Mich. We plan to continue this test for two more years. It was considered to be a successful effort because populations of Japanese beetle decreased 10-fold or more at most sites within five years of when the spore powder was distributed. It was also reported in Wisconsin in 2013. Japanese beetles like to lay their eggs on irrigated turf like golf courses, athletic fields and highly maintained lawns. A lawn should be mowed at 3 to 4 inches in height and properly fertilized for maximum root growth. Annual bluegrass weevils (larvae and adult), armyworms, chinch bugs, cutworms, sod webworms, white grubs. The product’s effects lasts for up to four months. Two different types of chemicals are used at different times of the year for different targets, preventives and curatives. Grub damage may appear in home lawns from mid-September to November or from March to early May. The nematodes may not kill as many grubs as the standard insecticide products, but they persist a long time and may even infect grubs for several years after they are applied. It kills about 50 … This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. However, as European chafers and Japanese beetles have spread northward, lawns and other low maintenance turf areas in much of the Lower Peninsula north of Lansing and in the eastern half of the Upper Peninsula are seeing more damage. 1995. Granular vs Liquid Grub Killer; Grub killer vs grub preventer; ... GrubEx is made using the active ingredient called chlorantraniliprole. Bayer Grub Control vs. Grub Killer Plus. Chlorantraniliprole applied in April will not work on spring grubs that are already present when it is applied. Lawn sprinklers can be used if you do not have an irrigation system. Prevents lawn damage: use … In fact, most well-maintained lawns do not have visible damage from grubs. This time of year (late summer and fall), only curative products can be used to effectively control grub populations. The bacterium in this product will only infect Japanese beetles and not any other species of grubs, while the most damaging grub to Michigan lawns is the European chafer. The active ingredients are usually shown on the bottom right or left of the front of the bag and listed as a percent of composition. Be sure the problem is grubs. Carefully check the label for ingredients. After irrigation or rainfall, grub control is established in as little as 24 hours and penetrates thatch up to ½ inch thick. There was a product available in years past from Spectrum that contained imidacloprid, but I did not see any in my visits the last two years (2016 and 2017). You can do this by putting a pinch of nematodes in a glass of water at room temperature for 10 minutes and check to see if they are wiggling. The label lists the legal rate at which the product can be used. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. How Late Can I Put Down Grub Control? Neither of the products listed grubs on the label printed on the bag and neither of the products would have controlled grubs. Make a regular practice of mowing your yard with the mower on the highest setting (3.5-4 inches). Grub Sprays vs. Granules. It rescues and protects lawns and turf from grubs and certain other insects that feed on them. Finally, avoid spray drift or granular spreader drift to flower beds when applying thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, clothianidin or any insecticide for grubs other than chlorantraniliprole. Protecting bees and other pollinators. Look on the Internet for ‘Heteromask,’ ‘Nemasys G’ or Buglogical Control Systems. Several species of beetle larvae are categorized as white grubs. Japanese beetles and European chafers lay most of their eggs in July, but Japanese beetles continue laying eggs into August. Do not apply any curative compounds in the spring after May 15 as grubs stop feeding in late May as they prepare to pupate. Scotts GrubEx vs Bayer Grub Killer Plus. The product’s effects lasts for up to four months. DYLOX 420 SL Turf and Ornamental Insecticide is a soluble concentrate, which dissolves readily in water and is suitable for use in all power-operated ground sprayers. Finding one or two grubs does not indicate you need to apply a grub control product. In the last 10 years, the amount of European chafer damage to home lawns in … PLUS insect killer: also kills ants, ticks, bill bugs, chinch bugs, crickets, cutworms, earwigs, grasshoppers, and more. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Japanese beetle grubs also feed on turf roots in home lawns, but they are not usually as much of a problem on home lawns as European chafers can be. Dylox (Active ingredient: Trichlorfon) Widely used by professionals, Dylox kills grubs after they are in their third instar. If applied too late, preventative products may not be effective as they work best on small grubs. 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