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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Crop Genetics and Breeding Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #363470
Research Project: Genetic Improvement and Cropping Systems of Warm-season Grasses for Forage, Feedstocks, Syrup, and Turf

Location: Crop Genetics and Breeding Research

Title: Quantifying the damage potential of the bermudagrass stem maggot

Author
item BAXTER, LISA - University Of Georgia
item Anderson, William - Bill
item HUDSON, WILLIAM - University Of Georgia
item HANCOCK, DENNIS - University Of Georgia
item PREVATT, CHRISTOPHER - University Of Florida
item MOORE, ZACH - Rijk Zwaan Usa

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/28/2019
Publication Date: 9/5/2019
Citation: Baxter, L.L., Anderson, W.F., Hudson, W.G., Hancock, D.W., Prevatt, C.G., Moore, Z. 2019. Quantifying the damage potential of the bermudagrass stem maggot. Crop Science. 59(5):2280-2286. https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2019.04.0220.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2019.04.0220

Interpretive Summary: Bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM; Atherigona reversura Villenueve) is an invasive pest of bermudagrass that has spread throughout the Southeast, reducing hay yields of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon). It has been difficult to determine the exact amount of yield loss and economic loss from this pest. The objective of this research was to quantify the damage potential of the BSM in terms of forage yield, nutritive value, and economic returns of five bermudagrass varieties grown in Tifton, GA. The BSM only significantly reduced yields from hay harvests between late July to September corresponding to the third, fourth, and/or fifth harvest of the year for bermudagrass hay producers in the Deep South states. Hay quality generally decreased in plots not treated with insecticide during times of BSM infestation. Thus BSM significantly reduces yield and quality and subsequent returns to farmer. Although, Tifton 85 is more tolerant to BSM, this variety also lost yield due to the pest. Results indicate that spraying to control BSM only during the third through fifth hay harvests was economically sound.

Technical Abstract: Since the 2010 discovery in southern Georgia, the bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM; Atherigona reversura Villenueve) has spread throughout the Southeast, damaging bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hayfields and pastures. The objective of this research was to quantify the damage potential of the BSM in terms of forage yield, nutritive value, and economic returns of five bermudagrass varieties grown in Tifton, GA. The BSM only significantly reduced herbage mass from late July to September each year in this study. This would generally correspond to the third, fourth, and/or fifth harvest of the year for bermudagrass hay producers in the Deep South states. Although crude protein increased, other nutritive value parameters decreased in plots not treated with insecticide. This research further corroborates previous findings and unpublished research observations. Finally, the results indicate that spraying prior to every harvest is not an economical management strategy. Instead, insecticide applications should only be made when significant yield loss is expected (generally late July to September). Producers should create and implement a strategic IPM plan to manage BSM populations on their farms to ensure positive economic returns and slow the potential resistance of the BSM to pyrethroids by preventing their overuse.