Turfgrass Insects of the United States and Canada

The first edition of this reference work became known as the bible of turfgrass entomology upon publication in 1987. It proved invaluable to both professional entomologists and commercial turf managers, and also has been used widely in college extension courses. Now the author of that work, Haruo Tashiro, is joined by Patricia J. Vittum and Michael G. Villani in incorporating the latest research into an eagerly awaited second edition that provides the most comprehensive coverage available of turfgrass pests in the continental United States, Hawaii, and southern Canada.

The volume opens with an account of turfgrass in the modern environment and then offers fundamental information on insects and their arthropod relatives. For each major insect or group, the book covers taxonomy, importance, history and distribution, host plants and damage, description of life stages, life history and habits, and natural enemies. Birds and mammals that are attracted to turfgrass by the presence of insects are also considered. The book provides an overview of detection and diagnosis of insect infestation, survey techniques, and principles of strategy and control. Every chapter of the original edition has been updated to the current state of knowledge.

Among the highlights of the second edition are new chapters on biological control principles, on sampling techniques and setting thresholds, and on integrated pest management. The chapters on chemical control and on insect habitats in turf have been expanded considerably, as have those on billbugs, mole crickets, cutworms, white grubs, and ants. To aid in identification, this new edition features 576 color images on 72 plates. Larger, clearer images show the life stages of nearly all turfgrass insects to be found in North America north of the Rio Grande, as well as examples of damage. A distribution map and full-sized sketches of developmental stages are also included for each insect pest discussed.