Book Description

The first edition of this reference work became known as the bible of turfgrass entomology upon publication in 1987. It has proved invaluable to professional entomologists, commercial turf managers, and golf course superintendents and has been used widely in college extension courses. This classic of the field is now in its third edition, providing up-to-date and complete coverage of turfgrass pests in the continental United States, Hawaii, and southern Canada. This revised volume integrates all relevant research from the previous two decades. It provides expanded coverage of several pest species, including the annual bluegrass weevil, invasive crane fly species, chinch bugs, billbugs, mole crickets, and white grubs. Patricia J. Vittum also provides detailed information on the biology and ecology of all major pests and includes the most current information on conditions that favor insect development and biological control strategies pertinent to each species. This edition will include more than 100 black-and-white images, including diagrams of life cycles, sketches of morphological characteristics, and charts highlighting seasonal activity. The book also includes 72 full-color plates (more than 500 color images), showing closeup pictures of most of the key insects (adult and immature stages) and damaged turf. The reader should be able to identify most turf insects through the use of this text. It is a critical reference work that any serious turf professional should own.