o

THE

CONNECTICUT 
ASSOCIATION OF 
GOLF COURSE << 
SUPERINTENDENTS,

s

JUNE 1970

"BIOLOGY AND CONTROL OF A 

SPECIES OF HYPERODES"

R. Scott Cameron, Cornell University

Damage

In recent years a species of Hyperodes 
has damaged turfgrass particularly Poa 
annua L., on golf courses in the Long 
Island and Westchester County areas of 
New York State. Large patches of P. 
annua are killed on greens, aprons of 
greens, tees, and fairways. Unlike grass 
damaged by fungi or wilt, many of the 
grass plants attacked by Hyperodes are 
severed at the base of the stems and lie 
flat soon after being damaged. Weevil 
damage occurs in May and early June 
and larvae, pupae, and adults can be 
found beneath the damaged turfgrass in 
mid-June.

Classification

The species of Hyperodes involved has 
not yet been determined. It has been 
identified as both H. anthracinus (Dietz) 
and H.maculicottis (Kirby), but counts 
of punctures and hairs on specimens of 
Long Island Hyperodes indicate that the 
Long Island Hyperodes are significantly 
different from either species Dr. Rose 
Ella Warner recently classified several 
Hyperodes collected on Long Island golf 
courses as Hyperodes sp. near anthracinus 
(Dietz). The common name of "turf­
grass weevil” has been given to the species 
of Hyperodes causing damage to golf 
course turfgrass on Long Island.

iology
Turfgrass weevil eggs are deposited be­
tween leaf sheaths in P. annua stems,

VOL. 3 NO. 2

THE GRASS CATCHER

By Charles G. Baskin

"Keep animals and unprotected persons 
away during treatment and while there is 
a danger from drift or residues. Keep 
package tightly closed except when re­
moving contents and store in a ventilated 
place away from foodstuffs. Do not re-use 
container. Crush and bury when empty. 
To protect fish and to avoid contamination 
of domestic waters, do not dispose of any 
of this material or container in or near 
any body of water.” This was taken fop 
the label of a well-known fungicide that 
Js used for the control of disease on golf 
courses. How we, the superintendents, 
handle this and other chemicals will have 
a bearing on how much longer these' 
chemicals will be available to us. But 
more important, we have a responsibility 
to our members, to our employees, to our 
neighbors and to the general enviroment 
to properly handle the chemicals which 
we have to use. We also have the res­
ponsibility to choose the proper material 
to use. Many times we have a choice of 
several products to do a specific job, such 
as, control of chinch bug. Besides the 
performance records of the chemicals we 
should consider their effects on people, the 
soil, chemical life, etc. Let’s play it 
smart...............

where the larvae hatch after about 5 days 
and begin feeding. The small turfgrass 
weevil larvae move about the soil in the 
thatch and often tunnel into several grass 
plants. The large larvae appear to be more 
sedentary as they feed externally on grass 
stems from a small burrow formed in the 
thatch and upper soil. Larvae prefer P. 
annua to other grasses, particularly bent- 
grass and Kentucky bluegrass.

Turfgrass weevil larvae pass through 
5 instars in about 30 days before trans­
forming into pupae in earthen cells about 
34 inch deep in the soil. The pupal 
cuticle is shed after about 5 days and the 
collow adult remains in the pupal cell 
for several days before emerging to begin 
active feeding. Adult feeding is usually 
restricted to leaves and upper stems of 
grass plants and appears to cause little 
damage. In laboratory feeding trials, 
adults generally preferred P. annua to 
other grasses. The turfgrass weevil sex 
ratio is approximately 1:1. No important 
natural enemies of the turfgrass weevil 
have been found.

Turfgrass weevils overwinter as adults 
in fescue grass and among leaves and 
debris under bushes and trees on or near 
golf courses. Overwintering adults be­
come active early in the spring, some 
flying and others probably migrating on 
the ground to favorable breeding sites on 
golf courses. On Long Island, there is

The sun radiates more energy in one 
second than man has used since the be­
ginning of civilization.

Former New Haven mayor, Richard 
Lee gave a very interesting presentation 
on our urban crisis at our last association 
meeting on May 6 at the Country Club of

(continued on page 2)

(continued on page 2)

CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION 

OF GOLF COURSE 
SUPERINTENDENTS

President....................
Vice President .........
Secretary .....................
Treasurer ...................

Charles G. Baskin
........ Robert Viera
......... Robert Silva
...Charles Traverse

Board of Directors
Richard Bator 
William Dest 
George Gorton, Jr.

Michael

Ben Kowalski 
Frank Lamphier 
Richard Parsons 

Ovian

The object of this association is to pro­
mote research, education and an exchange 
of practical experiences in the field of 
turf grass culture so that the increased 
knowledge will lead to more economic 
and efficient management of golf courses 
and related turf areas.

The CONN CLIPPINGS is an official 
publication of the Connecticut Association 
of Golf Course Superintendents.

Charles G. Baskin, editor
22 Lee Street
Waterbury, Connecticut 06708

UNION'S 1969 MEDIAN BOOST 
IN PAY, BENEFITS WAS 8.2%

A new Labor Department report con­
firms what employees already know — 
that unions won big gains at the bargain­
ing table last year.

Major settlements covering nearly 2.5 
million workers in 1969 provided record 
increases in wages and benefits, the depart­
ment’s study shows. Among the indicators 
of union success are:

— A median increase in wages and 
fringe benefits of 8.2% annually over the 
lives of the contracts, .up from 6.6% in 
1968 and 5.5% in 1967.

— Wage increases alone over the con­
tracts’ terms averaging 7.1%, up from 
5.2% in 1968 and 5% in 1967.

— A median first-year wage boost of 
8.2%, up from 7.2% the year before and 
5.6% in 1967; labor men continued to 
seek especially fat pay increases in the 
"front end” of the contracts to offset fast­
rising prices.

The building trades continued to set 
the pace for other unions last year, 
winning a median boost in wages and 
fringes of 12.9%. Major settlements were 
reached in the metal-working, transporta­
tion, lumber, petroleum and apparel in­
dustries in 1969-

2 —

THE GRASS CATCHER
(continued from page 1)

BIOLOGY
(continued from page 1)

Darien. The attitude of today’s youth and 
the problems they see in today’s society 
were of prime interest. The problems 
confronting the law enforcement agencies 
were also discussed.

Mr. James Latham, formerly with the 
U.S.G.A. and presently the chief field 
agronomist of the Milwaukee Sewerage 
Commission, will be the speaker at our 
next meeting. Jim’s "bread and butter” 
is Milorganite but his presentations never 
dwell on the subject. This meeting will 
be held on Tuesday, June 9 at the 
Patterson Golf Club where Pierre Coste 
is the superintendent.

The Scholarship and Research Fund of 
the Golf Course Superintendents Associa­
tion of America received $14,300 from 
the National Golf Fund. This is part of 
a total of $110,000 that was distributed 
by the National Golf Fund from revenues 
from the PGA-sponsored 1969 National 
Golf Day. The money received by the 
Scholarship and Research Fund will be 
used to assist worthy turfgrass students 
in their financial obligations and to pro­
mote research at the university level for 
more effective golf course maintenance.

An optimist see an opportunity in every 
difficulty: A pessimist sees a difficulty in 
every opportunity.

CAGCS MEETING

Date: June 9, 1970
Place: Patterson Goif Club 
Fairfield, Connecticut

Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. - golf 
5:00 p.m. - Board of Directors 
6:00 p.m. - Business Meeting 
7:00 p.m. - Dinner

Program
Speaker: Mr. James Latham,

Chief Field Agronomist 
Milwaukee Sewerage 
Commission

one complete spring generation and what 
appears to be a partial late summer genera­
tion.

Control

Twenty-five insecticides were tested on 
turfgrass weevil adults in laboratory ex­
periments. Several organophosphate in­
secticides, including Guthion, Supracide, 
Baytex, and Dursban, were most effective, 
while several chlorinated hydrocarbon in­
secticides, including heptachlor and chlor­
dane, were least effective.

The materials which were most promis­
ing in the laboratory bioassay experiments, 
disulfoton which looked promising in 
1968 field tests, and diazinon were selected 
for field testing in 1969. Diazinon was 
given more emphasis than the other 
materials because it was being used in 
large amounts by golf course supts.

Nearly all the 1969 plots treated in both 
April and May were conspicuously 
healthier than their surrounding control 
plots. Dursban applied at a rate of 2% 
pounds active ingredient per acre in April 
and May gave the best control. Diazinon 
applied at a rate of 5 pounds active in­
gredient per acre in April and May con­
sistently gave good control, while diazinon 
applied at a rate of 2% pounds active 
ingredient per acre in April and May gave 
only fair control. The diazinon plots 
treated only once in mid-April showed 
considerable damage.

Results of the field plot tests and the 
operational field trials lead to the con­
clusion that the turfgrass weevil can be 
controlled by insecticides when applied at 
the proper times. To control the turfgrass 
weevil on Long Island in Westchester 
County, granular diazinon at a rate of 3-4 
pounds active ingredient per acre, or 
Dursban emulsifiable concentrate at a rate 
of 11/2 - 2 pounds active ingredient per 
acre, should be applied on suspected 
problem areas in mid-April and mid-May. 
These are temporary recommendations 
until more intensive field tests are con­
ducted to substantiate our experiments.

Reprinted from:
Tee to Green
Metropolitan Golf Course Supt. Assoc. 
Gary Crothers, Editor in Chief

IN CASE OF ILLNESS

Please pass the word around anytime 
you hear about illness striking any of our 
members. Also, give our welfare chairman, 
Mike Ovian, a call. We would appreciate 
the help of the wives in this matter.

A Colorado State University professe, 
has received a $1,000 grant to investigate 
his belief that chicken eggs talk to each 
other before they hatch. Probably for 
another $5,000 he will tell us what they 
say.

— ?

TURF MANAGEMENT

A. J. Powell, Jr., Turf Specialist

Hopefully not everyone has had a 
"Satchmo” visit his turf operation. But 
chances are good that "Satchmo” has 
appeared but was not recognized. 
"Satchmo”, by my definition, is an out-of- 
town peddler with a "satchel full” of 
"more gifts than a gift shop”. For a 
minimum order of $67.00, your wife will 
receive a new pop-up toaster or knife 
sharpener. And along with your pocket 
knife, pen and pencil set and billfold, you 
can have a choice between a $17.00 brief­
case or your very own manicure set.

Think again before you bind yourself 
in such a deal. Why is he so generous 
and your local dealer so stingy? Is he 
trying to setal your business or is he only 
concerned about the quality of your turf 
operation? Of course, all of his gifts to 
you and your wife would not make you 
feel obligated to him on a return trip. 
Of course, he would not hint around you, 
your boss, or laborers that you had 
accepted these gifts. Of course, he would 
not try to increase that minimum order 
on the next return trip. To be so generous, 
he must be considering you as very in- 
fiuencial among your peers and associates.

What is your first impression of Satch­
mo? Suppose Satchmo visits a golf course. 
Inside his satchel of gifts he also carries 
a 674 page notebook that describes pro­
ducts for the club house ranging from salt 
to floor wax, products for the golf pro 
ranging from kilties to marshmallow 
centered driving range balls, and products 
for the superintendent ranging from axle 
grease to chelated iron. Many of his 
products are similar to those you are pre­
sently using, but without the actual label 
you may never recognize them. Many of 
his products are "fantastic new discover­
ies” packaged for your convenience. Hope­
fully, he comes to you first instead of 
trying to soft-sell one of your machanics 
on the type of tube sealant he needs or 
your boss on the very recent discovery of 
"Poa Out” for complete Poa annua eradi­
cation. Very often his "bag” is name­
tossing. John Brown uses six tons per 
year of his liquid mow and Pebble Run 
saves $20,000 annually in labor by using 
his liquid sand that never needs raking.

If you have time, take a look at his 
roducts and judge their worth yourself. 
Always compare his delivered cost with 
that of your local dealer. Very often, 
Satchmo will be able to do no more than 
read his company’s advertisements about 
the products in question. Play the Agrono-

BEWARE OF "SATCHMO”

mist part and question the correctness of 
the advertisements. Put him on the spot, 
and he may never return. Although you 
have been very successful with a cheaper 
product, he may list 25 reasons why his 
product is better. Is a free coin purse any 
reason to switch from a good product to 
one that you are not familiar with?

Hopefully, you will feel that Satchmo 
is disrespectful since he is trying to sell 
you a miracle product. Soil microbes or 
soil enzymes boxed and ready to mix with 
fertilizer or water are often sold with 
astounding assurance that they actually 
cure soil problems of plant food avail­
ability, soil structure, and permeability.

Another product often misrepresented 
is the surfactant. No doubt, surfactants 
have been successful for special use situa­
tions, but general use to solve fertility or 
management problems is unfeasible. By 
decreasing water surface tension, surfac­
tants have been used to relieve puddling 
in depression areas, to increase infiltration 
or decreases water run-off on small knolls, 
and to decrease dew formation. Therefore, 
know your needs and buy these materials 
accordingly. The percent surfactant in a 
material and its residual nature should be 
considered when comparing prices.

Satchmo practically always promotes 
liquid fertilizers. He knows that a good 
turf operation has labor problems and a 
pressure sprayer. He oftens stresses that 
the phosphorus in liquid fertilizers are 
very soluble and therefore quickly avail­
able. Also the liquid material offers foliar 
feeding and penetrates deeper into the 
root zone area. Do you believe these 
suggested advantages?

Concerning phosphorus availability, 
most granular phosphates are in an avail­
able form when applied. However, with 
either a liquid or granular phosphorus 
material, if there is complete soil-phos­
phorus contact, usually 30% or more of 
the phosphorus is fixed in unavailable 
forms within a short time. Experiments 
conducted to date show that usually the 
same crop responses are obtained with 
liquid and solid fertilizers when equal 
amounts of nitrogen, phosphate and 
potash are applied.

Liquid fertilizers have helped from the 
labor standpoint for many turf growers 
because they can be applied through a 
sprayer. Many liquid fertilizers can be 
mixed with pesticides that are routinely

applied. The actual effectiveness of liquid 
fertilizers does not differ greatly from 
that of granular fertilizers. Before pur­
chasing, compare the cost of liquid versus 
granular materials that give the same 
amount of plant food. If the cost of the 
liquid material is greater, then assess 
whether the extra cost is worth the 
handling advantages.

Your local salesman and distributors 
might not appear to be Santa Clauses, but 
they are interested in your turf operation. 
Being concerned is their "bread and 
butter” and they must give you good 
service or lose your business. "Satchmo” 
on the other hand, may only be interested 
in one or a few purchases because his 
margin of profit is high and he is not 
required to consult with you weekly or 
daily. As professional turf growers, work 
as closely as possible with your local 
dealers. And the next time that "Satchmo” 
visits your turf operation, ask him to 
accompany you to the next professional 
turf meeting. His response might amaze 
you.

Reprinted from: 
The Agronomist 
Univ. of Md.
April 1970

CONNECTICUT
CHRONICLES

In the late eighteenth and early nine­
teenth centuries the Yankee peddler be­
came a firmly entrenched institution in 
nearly every eastern state. In fact, the 
Yankee peddlers were supposedly respon­
sible for giving Connecticut' its nick­
name, "The Nutmeg State.”

The peddler, a colorful character, 
traveled far and wide, with horse and 
wagon or just a knapsack. His wares in­
cluded tin, clocks, brassware, textiles, and 
a number of other items.

Some of them, slightly unscrupulous, 
traveled with imitation nutmegs, made 
from oak and hickory, which they sold 
to housewives as the genuine spice. Other 
peddlers cleverly palmed off worm-eaten 
nutmegs on unsuspecting people.

These wandering Connecticut "busi­
nessmen” soon became a legend, especial­
ly in the South, where many of them sold 
their wares. But, of all the items they 
peddled, they became best-known for 
their wooden nutmegs. Almost single- 
handedly, they were responsible for the 
growth of the tradition of Yankee in­
genuity, and for giving Connecticut its 
long-famous nickname.

IV!

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

4 —

With the golf season now in full swing, 
a few notes on the history of the game 
may not be amiss. One authoritative 
source says that the Romans invented the 
game and when they were swarming all 
over Europe, they took their bent sticks 
with them and taught local natives the 
art of the scuff slice and topped ball. The 
Dutch were enthusiasts for a limited time 
(too many water hazards, no doubt) but 
it was the Scots who developed into true 
addicts. In fact, in the mid-1400’s, golf 
became so popular in Scotland that 
archery fell into a decline and in the in­
terest of national defense, an edict was 
passed forbidding the game. As might 
have been expected, this only increased 
the number of Scots who decided to throw 
down the long tow and take up the 
driver. A century later, golf had become 
a royal sport. It is reported that Mary 
Stuart was observed with club in hand 
only a few days after the murder of her 
second husband.

Golf equipment has become somewhat 
more sophisticated since those days, when 
clubs were carved from a bent stick and 
the ball was a sewed leather orb stuffed 
with boiled chicken feathers. Today’s 
most commonly used ball consists of a 
center, an elastic winding and cover. It 
weighs exactly 1.62 ounces, has a diameter 
of 1.68 inches and has 330-odd dimples, 
each exactly 13.5-thousandths of an inch 
deep. The dimples presumably give the 
ball stability in flight, so that when you 
hit it towards the woods, it most certainly 
goes into the woods. Why it goes into 
the woods when you hit it toward the 
green is one of the unfathomable 
mysteries of the game.

CONN CLIPPINGS 
Charles G. Baskin, editor
22 Lee Street
Waterbury, Conn. 06708

June 9

July 7

August 4

September I

September 15

October 6

November 3

PATTERSON Club
McGloughlin Trophy. Tourney against Metropolitan Section. 
Longest drive. Closest to flagstick. Blind Bogey.
YALE Golf Club
Blind Partner. Blind Bogey. Closest to flagstick. Longest drive.
SHUTTLEMEADOW Country Club
Superintendent & associates Championships. Closest to flagstick. 
Longest drive. Blind Bogey.
HARTFORD Golf Club
Superintendent - Press. Blind Bogey. Longest drive.
Closest to flagstick.
MILL RIVER Country Club
Superintendent-Pro-Chairman-President. Shotgun at 12:30.
Along with the 4 man team championship, there will be an individual 
Supt.-Pro, Supt.-Chairman, and Supt.-President.
WATERTOWN Country Club
Conn. State Trophy (net) Flag Tourney. Blind Bogey.
Closest to flagstick. Longest drive.
FARMINGTON Country Club
Blind Partner. Blind Bogey. Closest to flagstick. Longest drive. 
Least number of putts.

MOON DUST

MOON DUST has a high titanium 
content, is low in potassium and sodium, 
and appears to lack organic matter. Plants 
could not grow in moon dust alone, but 
the dust could serve as a good medium if 
nutrients were added. Some seedlings of 
plants, such as tomato, bean, wheat and 
pine, showed a growth advantage when 
challenged with lunar material. The 
most noticeable growth was shown by 
liverworts, a lower form of plant life. 
Fern and lettuce grew best on lunar 
material; however, growth of algae was 
inhibited initially.

These findings have been reported by 
Dr. Charles H. Walkinshaw, leader of a 
team of NASA botanical scientists con­
ducting tests with lunar material brought 
back by the Apollo 11 mission. The tear, 
is evaluating the effects of lunar material 
on more than 30 species of plants.

A plus benefit of the project has been 
the development of plant quarantine 
fcailities to permit the production of 
truly germ-free plants. “This opens 
significant new frontiers in plant disease 
investigations and basic research into the 
functioning of all plants,” Dr. Walkin­
shaw said.

FIRST CLASS

Mr. W. R. Softers 
208 Nan Drive 
Orange, Conn. 06