Annual Bluegrass Weevils are back!

Although a few sites saw Annual Bluegrass Weevil (ABW) adults in soap flushes in late February (so early!) this year, activity has been very quiet over the last month in western NC. In the Cashiers and Hendersonville areas, adult numbers are slightly below or at threshold late last week. Most sites in those areas with significant ABW adult activity will likely need to make an application later this week. Remember, if you are applying soap flushes and see a steady increase in adults but counts are still below threshold, carefully monitor those areas for the following few days in case activity starts to increase suddenly. In the greater Banner Elk area, growing degree days are still a few weeks behind the southern sites but will probably see an increase in adults in the next week or so. Keep an eye out to make sure you don’t miss the peak!

Annual Bluegrass Weevil Adults, photo by T. Billeisen NCSU)

Specific recommendations for control for ABW are on Turffiles along with other biology and behavior information. April-May is the time of the year we see the most significant damage in NC so now is the time to be vigilant!