Burning of the dense Floralta mat in January or February may provide some control. Alternatively, mowing or grazing may be used to keep down dense mat formation in summer to help reduce spittlebug problem. Chinch bugs outbreak on Floralta in dry years cause a mixture of yellowing or dying spots and dead plants throughout the year. It may be controlled with the application of 1 quart of Sevin XL per acre. The field should be clean-mowed 2 weeks after spraying and then fertilized with a complete fertilizer.
Armyworms appear to be a major problem on stargrasses and bermudagrasses.
Widespread stripping of leave blades from their veins occur as the worms consume forage and cause extensive damage. Spraying with 1 quart of Sevin XL per acre provides effective control only if applied to the hair like stage of armyworm development. To help continue with the monitor of pest incidence on pasture grasses in south Florida, producers are encouraged to call in to their County Extension Office or to the Range Cattle REC with their observations and comments of pest outbreaks on their ranch. This information is very valuable in keeping us aware of the severity of insect problems and give direction to our extension and research programs. Back to the Range Cattle Research and Education Center Home Page Back to the Publications Page Back to the Ona Reports Page.