WeevilTrak in 2016: Win the Fight Against ABW

Annual bluegrass weevils (ABW) are coming, so be ready this spring with WeevilTrak™ from Syngenta. WeevilTrak, the only ABW monitoring program, is enhanced for 2016. In addition to an updated Optimum Control Strategy (OCS) and new features on its website, WeevilTrak.com, the leading source for scouting annual bluegrass weevil  has a new managing consultant leading the charge.

Steve McDonald, owner of Turfgrass Disease Solutions (TDS), and member of the WeevilTrak research team since the program’s inception, is the new managing consultant. McDonald, an industry-leading expert on turf diseases and insect pests, founded TDS in 2005 and currently consults with approximately 150 golf courses annually.

This year, WeevilTrak researchers will be collecting data from 30 different golf courses, as well as sourcing data from WeevilTrak subscribers via CrowdTrak. A new addition to the wealth of features available on WeevilTrak.com, CrowdTrak allows superintendents to submit insights from their own golf courses via a short and easy-to-use form. The new feature is now live on WeevilTrak.com.

Another new feature of WeevilTrak.com is the growing degree days (GDD) model. This tool calculates GDD data for superintendents based on ZIP code. The WeevilTrak GDD model has been designed specifically for monitoring ABW development.

While GDD are not a substitute for scouting techniques such as soap flushes, pitfall traps and soil core sampling, research has shown they are valuable for monitoring ABW development. The degree-day data collected from each of the WeevilTrak monitoring sites significantly affects WeevilTrak researchers’ recommendations regarding when certain treatments should be applied.

The 2016 Optimum Control Strategy features four different insecticides with proven activity on ABW, including Ference® insecticide, a key component of the control strategy. A Scimitar® GC insecticide application will set the stage to control overwintered adults. Acelepryn®, Ference and Provaunt® insecticides target early and late stage ABW larvae. Provaunt and Ference are also used in the summer generations to provide control of the asynchronous summer populations. This powerhouse control strategy helps ensure season-long control of ABW.

To learn more about WeevilTrak or to register, please visit WeevilTrak.com or contact your local Syngenta territory manager.

Monitoring Practices, Dr. Ben McGraw, 2015

Acelepryn is not for sale, sale into, distribution and/or use in Nassau, Suffolk, Kings, Queens Counties of New York State.

©2016 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local Extension Service to ensure registration status. Ference is a Restricted Use Pesticide in the State of New York. Scimitar is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Acelepryn®, Ference®, Provaunt®, Scimitar®, WeevilTrak™ and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

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