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Browsing by Author "Youngman, Roger R."

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    Aphids in Virginia Small Grains: Life Cycles, Damage and Control
    Herbert, D. Ames Jr.; Hull, Cathy; Youngman, Roger R.; Day, Eric R. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2005-09-01)
    Describes life cycle of four species of aphid and damage on small grain crops in Virginia. Discusses prediction of aphid population outbreaks and methods of sampling plants for aphids. Also discusses aphid predators and parasites.
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    Asiatic Garden Beetle in Field Corn
    Tiwari, Siddharth, 1976-; Laub, Curtis A.; Youngman, Roger R. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-02-04)
    Describes life history of Maladera castanea and its damage to field corn seeds and seedlings. Also describes methods for controlling this crop pest.
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    Asiatic Garden Beetle in Field Corn
    Tiwari, Siddharth, 1976-; Laub, Curtis A.; Youngman, Roger R. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2005-09-01)
    Describes life history of Maladera castanea and its damage to field corn seeds and seedlings. Also describes methods for controlling this crop pest.
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    Biogeography and biosystematics of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst)/Wolbachia interactions
    Zhang, Xing (Virginia Tech, 2006-11-28)
    This research focused on the reproductive incompatibility and genetic differences between the two strains of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst). Two molecular markers served as the basis for the strain distribution analysis of plum curculio and Wolbachia symbiont. One marker is the partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase gene subunit I (mtCOI) of plum curculio. Another marker is the Wolbachia Surface Protein (wsp) gene of Wolbachia associated with plum curculio. First, the reproductive compatibility of cross-populations mating in plum curculio was studied during the summers of 2004 and 2006. The results confirmed the reproductive incompatibility among plum curculio geographic populations. A unidirectional incompatibility was revealed in an approximate north and south transect of the range of plum curculio (4 x 4 two factorial design: NY, VA, FL, and WV): there was a significant low fertility in WV males mated with NY (40%) and VA (29%) females. The Florida population showed a different pattern: FL males have a significantly lower fertility with VA (46%) and WV (37%) females while FL females were compatible with all males from the four populations. The results of experiment 2 indicated that within the northern geographic area populations (3 x 3 two factorial design: NY, MA, and NJ) were compatible with each other. An opposite unidirectional reproductive incompatibility was revealed in the combination of NJ males with FL females, which showed a significant low fertility (47%). A bi-directional incompatibility occurred between FL and WV reciprocal cross mating. FL males mated with WV females (26%) and WV males mated with FL females (21%) both have the significant low fertility compared to fertility of within their population matings. The genetic diversity among plum curculio populations from different geographic locations was investigated using the partial mtCOI gene. A total of 50 samples from 10 populations were sequenced. PCR products were 863 bp in length. A total of 23 unique sequence haplotypes were found in the 50 samples tested. Haplotype G (n = 5), L (n = 12) and T (n = 13) comprised 60% of 50 samples. The nucleotide distances between those haplotypes ranged from 0.12% to 4.87%. Genetic distances between northern and southern group plum curculios range from 4.17% to 4.87%. Two distinct major clades were found, using three different phylogenetic analyses: 1) neighbor joining (NJ), 2) maximum-parsimony (MP), and 3) maximum-likelihood (ML). 100% bootstraps support the northern clade and the southern clade was strongly supported (100/100/86, NJ/MP/ML) as well. The mid-southern subclade within the southern clade was also strongly supported (70/82/71, NJ/MP/ML) and the far-southern subclade was supported in NJ tree (81%) but was not resovled in MP and ML trees. The mid-southern subclade included haplotypes from two NJ, Washington, VA (Ra), Blacksburg, VA (BL) and 50% of WV populations and the far-southern subclade included haplotypes from FL, GA, Whitethorne, VA (Ke), Troutville, VA (Bo) and another 50% of WV populations. The results suggested that the northern and the southern clade could correspond with the northern and southern strains, respectively, of plum curculio. In this study, the mtCOI sequence was highly informative as a molecular marker in that it was useful to distinguish C. nenuphar from northern and from southern geographic locations in the eastern United States. However, the number of generations per year of several geographic populations within the southern clade still needs to be determined. The distribution of Wolbachia infection associated with plum curculio strains was investigated. 91 of 93 samples were infected by Wolbachia. Three unique Wolbachia strains were identified. The strains wCne1 and wCne2 (593 bp) were 97% identical, and their sequences were both 84% identical with wCne3 (590 bp). The wsp sequence of wCne1 was 99% identical to Wolbachia sequenced from the neotropical beetle, Chelymorpha alternans Boheman (Keller et al. 2004). The wCne2 sequence was 98.5% identical to the flower bug, Orius nagaii Yasunaga (Miura and Tagami, unpublished). The wCne3 sequence was 100% identical to Wolbachia sequenced from the tephritid fruit fly, Dacus destillatoria (Jamnongluk et al. 2000) and the ant, Formica exsecta (Reuter and Keller 2003). PCR - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) was used for superinfection detection. Of 93 samples, 15 (16.1%), 21 (22.6%), 19 (20.4%), 36 (38.7%) samples were infected by wCne1, wCne2, wCne1 plus wCne2, and wCne3, respectively. Only two (2.2%) samples had no infection. The wCne3 strain was always present as a single infection. Therefore, current results suggest that Wolbachia strains approximate the distribution of plum curculio strains: the northern strain is infected with wCne1 and wCne2 strains in supergroup B, the southern strain is infected with wCne3 strain in supergroup A and the mid-Atlantic region is the convergence area. Compared with the haplotype distribution of plum curculio mtCOI gene, there was a closer relation of the mid-southern PC clade to the far-southern clade than to the northern clade. However, Wolbachia symbionts in mid-southern PC are more closely related to those in northern PC than to those in far-southern PC. The relationship of Wolabchia infection with reproductive incompatibility between plum curculio populations is also discussed.
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    Bluegrass Billbug Pest Management in Orchardgrass
    Kuhn, William; Youngman, Roger R.; Laub, Curtis A.; Love, Kenner; Mize, Timothy (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-02-04)
    Describes life cycle of Sphenophorus parvulus and its damage to Dactylis glomerata. Also describes methods for monitoring and management of this pest.
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    Bluegrass Billbug Pest Management in Orchardgrass
    Kuhn, William; Youngman, Roger R.; Laub, Curtis A.; Love, Kenner; Mize, Timothy (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2007-10-01)
    Describes life cycle and stages of Sphenophorus parvulus and damage to Dactylis glomerata. Also describes methods for monitoring and management of this pest.
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    Cabbage and Seedcorn Maggot
    Midgarden, David Gunder 1962-; Youngman, Roger R. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2009-05-01)
    Describes life cycle of Cabbage Maggot and Seedcorn Maggot, damage to crops, and methods of control.
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    Chapter 9: Turfgrass Insect Management
    Youngman, Roger R.; Kuhar, Thomas P.; Gyawaly, Sudan; Laub, Curtis A.; Wu, S. (Virginia Turfgrass Council, 2017-01-02)
    Virginia turfgrass certification
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    Combined Roles of Glandular-haired Alfalfa and Natural Enemies in Alfalfa Pest Managment in Virginia
    Dellinger, Theresa Ann (Virginia Tech, 2003-09-19)
    Both alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and potato leafhopper, Empoasca fabae (Harris), (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), remain key pests of alfalfa in Virginia. Commercial varieties of potato leafhopper-resistant (or glandular-haired) alfalfa were released in the mid-1990s, but the impact of alfalfa weevil on these varieties has not been well documented. In 1999, two large-scale field experiments were initiated to compare the performance of a glandular-haired alfalfa variety against a standard, non-glandular-haired variety under both alfalfa weevil and potato leafhopper pest pressures in the southwestern and Piedmont regions of Virginia over a 3 year period. Results indicated that alfalfa weevil must be managed in potato leafhopper-resistant alfalfa to limit crop loss. Surprisingly, similar densities of potato leafhoppers were found in both the glandular-haired and standard varieties. Both varieties frequently had similar yields and forage quality. In general, the glandular-haired variety did not outperform the standard variety. Results also indicated that insecticide application did not always provide the expected benefits of higher yields and forage quality, despite reducing pest densities for 2-3 weeks after application. These data suggest that the economic thresholds for one or both of these pests in Virginia may require adjustment. The potential impact of glandular-haired alfalfa on the natural enemies of alfalfa weevil was examined as well. Bathyplectes anurus (Thompson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) was the dominant parasitoid attacking weevil larvae at both locations. Parasitization of weevil larvae by Bathyplectes spp. did not appear to be adversely affected by the presence of glandular trichomes on the potato leafhopper-resistant variety. Glandular trichomes had little impact on the infection of weevil larvae by the fungus Zoophthora phytonomi as well, but this was not unexpected. The genetic variation of B. anurus was surveyed at both study sites using RAPD-PCR to establish or eliminate the possibility that differences in parasitization levels between the Piedmont and southwestern regions could be attributed to the presence of different parasitoid strains. Most of the detected phenotypic variation was attributed to within population variation, with very little variation occurring between the two populations. However, the between population variation was statistically significant in 2000, but not in 2001.
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    Compact soil sampling strategy for white grubs
    Laub, Curtis A.; Youngman, Roger R.; Jordan, Tim A.; Kuhar, Thomas P. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2011-06-30)
    Describes a soil sampling method for beetle grubs, and discusses advantages of the compact sampling method.
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    Compact soil sampling strategy for white grubs
    Laub, Curtis A.; Youngman, Roger R.; Jordan, Tim A.; Kuhar, Thomas P. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2018-12-19)
    Describes a soil sampling method for beetle grubs, and discusses advantages of the compact sampling method.
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    Contributions toward the integrated pest management of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), on collards in Virginia
    Cordero Alonso, Roberto J. (Virginia Tech, 2005-10-19)
    Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is a serious pest of crucifer vegetables (Brassica sp.) worldwide because of a lack of effective natural enemies in certain regions and because of insecticide resistance. In 2003, laboratory and field studies were initiated in Virginia to better understand P. xylostella, its primary natural enemies, and their susceptibilities to insecticides in order to develop an economically and environmentally sound integrated pest management program for collards in the state. Ecological life table studies of P. xylostella immature stages on collards located on the Eastern Shore and on Kentland Farm, near Blacksburg at the New River Valley, VA revealed that most (98 to 99%) of P. xylostella died from natural causes. Mortality factors varied between the two regions. Neonates, small larvae, and large larvae disappearing were major mortality factors. Rainfall, predation, and dispersal probably contributed the most to this mortality. Egg mortality played a bigger role at the New River Valley compared with the Eastern Shore. Three parasitoid species were found that contributed to the mortality of P. xylostella: Diadegma insulare (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae); Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae); and Microplitis plutellae (Muesebeck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Additional studies conducted in the laboratory using leaf-dip bioassays revealed that P. xylostella collected from the Eastern Shore of Virginia, showed significant tolerance levels to esfenvalerate, acetamiprid, methomyl, methoxyfenozide, indoxacarb, and acephate compared with a susceptible strain of P. xylostella. The highest tolerance ratio (1,876 fold) was to esfenvalerate, a commonly-used pyrethroid. All of the insecticides tested in this study were quite toxic to the adult stage of the parasitoids, D. insulare and O. sokolowskii. The insect growth regulator, methoxyfenozide was considerably less toxic than other insecticides such as esfenvalerate, methomyl, acephate, spinosad, indoxacarb, and emamectin benzoate at field-rate and 1% of field-rate concentrations. The aforementioned insecticides as well as some other insecticides were evaluated several times in the field for efficacy against P. xylostella as well as other pests of collards. The most efficacious insecticides over five field experiments included acephate, emamectin benzoate, esfenvalerate, methomyl, methoxyfenozide, novaluron, indoxacarb, and spinosad. These insecticides were followed in relative efficacy by Bt kurstaki, acetamiprid, and azadirachtin, which provided relatively inconsistent control of lepidopteran larvae over the experiments. Effective insecticide options in collards that are less toxic to natural enemies and that can fit well into integrated pest management programs include indoxacarb, spinosad, novaluron, emamectin benzoate, methoxyfenozide, and Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki.
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    The determination of a dimensional spare out area for package closure placement
    Kuhn, Gregory J. (Virginia Tech, 1994-05-13)
    The risk of corn rootworm damage to continuously-grown corn was assessed in 32 fields from seven counties in Virginia in 1993 and 1994, Approximately 28% of the fields examined had economic root damage in corn left untreated with a soil insecticide. In addition, 19% of the fields overall had an economic loss in silage due to corn rootworm damage. A second study evaluated the effectiveness of using adult corn rootworm counts on commercial Olson yellow sticky traps and ear-zone regions of corn plants to predict subsequent damage to corn. Regression models for each sampling method were used to calculate economic thresholds of 20 adults per trap per wk for the Olson trap and 0.3 adults per stalk for the ear-zone visual count method. Adult counts on Olson traps obtained in mid-Aug correctly predicted economic damage to com 81% of the time; and resulted in only one serious error of failing to predict economic damage to corn. A sampling plan for the use of Olson traps is suggested. A third study investigated a possible sexual dimorphism in the elytra coloration pattern of western corn rootworm, and compared the sex ratio of adults captured yellow sticky traps with those obtained by aspiration. Striped and solid variations in elytra pattern were found in both sexes of western corn rootworm; however, 98% of the adults that exhibited the solid elytra pattern were male. The sex ratio of adults varied over time; however, in all cases, sticky traps captured a significantly greater proportion of males compared with aspiration.
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    Development and evaluation of trapping studies for Hylobius pales (Herbst) and Pissodes nemorensis Germar (Coleoptera: curculionidae) in Virginia Christmas tree plantations
    Fettig, Christopher John (Virginia Tech, 1996-02-05)
    The pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst), and the deodar weevil, Piss odes nemorensis Germar, are regeneration pests of pine plantations in the eastern United States. Attempts to sample regeneration weevils in Virginia have met with little success. Two trap types were field tested to determine their effectiveness in sampling H. pales and P. nemorensis populations in Virginia Christmas tree plantations. Labor intensive pit traps, using natural host materials and synthetic volatiles, caught significantly more weevils than PVC pitfall traps baited with synthetic volatiles alone. No differences in trap catches were observed between stationary and rotated traps. Vegetation management had no effect on trap catch. However, it was observed that newly planted white pine seedlings (Pinus strobus L.) were fed upon by H. pales at Significantly higher rates in plots not managed for competing vegetation than in herbicide treated plots. Feeding activity in mowed plots was intermediate. Trap catch did not correlate with seedling damage within or among sampling periods, or between years. The seasonal activity of both species is reviewed in detail. Mark-and-recapture techniques used to assess trap efficacy showed traps baited with pine material were most effective, irrespective of trap type. The response of H. pales adults to different ethanol-and-turpentine ratios in a laboratory bioassay did not vary with respect to gender or age. No gender differences in response to treatments were observed in these studies.
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    Effect of postemergence johnsongrass control on MCDV and MDMV incidence and severity in field corn
    Eberwine, John Wright (Virginia Tech, 1996-04-05)
    In the summers of 1989 and 1990, researchers in Va. and Md. began to observe lateseason reductions in com vigor in areas treated with nicosulfuron or primisulfuron for postemergence johnsongrass control. Symptoms observed included chlorosis, reddening of the leaves and shortening of the internodes. The nature and time of symptom expression were consistent with those caused by maize chlorotic dwarfvirus (MCDV) and maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) infection of com. It was hypothesized that postemergence johnsongrass control increased the incidence and severity of MCDV and MDMV in virus-susceptible corn hybrids due to increased feeding by vectors of these viruses on treated corn. Field experiments were conducted in 1991 and 1992 to evaluate the effect of postemergence johnsongrass control with broad casted nicosulfuron, postemergence directed imazethapyr, mechanical control and no control on virus disease incidence and severity in a virus-susceptible ('Southern States 565') and a virus-tolerant ('Southern States 844) corn hybrid. Visual injury evaluations taken 10 weeks after treatment showed that the virus-susceptible com hybrid sustained significantly more injury, averaged across johnsongrass control methods, than did the virus-tolerant corn hybrid. Within the virus-susceptible com hybrid, where johnsongrass was controlled, regardless of method, significantly more injury was observed relative to the nontreated check. Further, averaged across johnsongrass control treatments, the virus-tolerant corn hybrid yielded significantly higher compared to the virus-susceptible com hybrid. Experiments conducted in 1993 and 1994 utilized cages as a means of preventing insect movement from the infected johnsongrass to the crop. Blackfaced leafhopper evaluations suggested that the cages significantly reduced leafhopper movement from the infected johnsongrass to the corn, however complete exclusion was not achieved. Results of corn tissue assays showed that MCDV and MDMV were being transmitted, however no treatment differences were detected. Two experiments were conducted in 1994 to analytically test the hypothesis and to determine the time course of MCDV and MDMV double infection of corn tissue. Johnsongrass control treatments evaluated included broadcast nicosulfuron and no treatment. Postemergence johnsongrass control increased MCDV and MDMV incidence 9 to 21 days after treatment. Further, significantly more double infections of MCDV and MDMV were observed 14 to 21 days after treatment in experimental units receiving the nicosulfuron application.
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    The Effects of European corn borer on whole-plant yieldand root knot nematode fitness in corn
    Tiwari, Siddharth (Virginia Tech, 2007-04-26)
    Field studies were conducted over two growing seasons to evaluate the effect of different levels of third instar European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), on whole-plant dry matter in corn grown for silage. Mean (± SEM) whole-plant dry matter was significantly greater by 18.8% in uninfested control plants than in plants with an infestation level of 6 larvae/plant in 2004. Whole-plant dry matter in 2005 was significantly greater by 10.5% in control plants than in plants with an infestation level of 5 larvae/plant. Economic injury levels were calculated for each year using regression equations between whole-plant dry matter and European corn borer infestation level. Plant growth stage and infestation level had no effect on percent acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and crude protein values for either year. Greenhouse studies were conducted to examine the relationship between aboveground herbivory by European corn borer and belowground herbivory by root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita Chitwood (Tylenchida: Heteroderidae), in corn. Two experiments were conducted to measure belowground herbivory by M. incognita in juvenile penetrations and eggs/root system. In the first experiment, the main effects interaction was not significant for either M. incognita juvenile penetrations or eggs/root system. Overall mean juvenile penetrations/root system across all three growth stages, at infestation levels of 1 and 3 larvae/plant were significantly less than in the non-infested control. In addition, overall mean eggs/root system at an infestation level of 3 larvae/plant were significantly less than in the control. In the second experiment, the main effects interaction was significant for both juvenile penetrations and eggs/root system. At the 8 and 10 leaf growth stages, juvenile penetrations/root system at infestation levels of 1 and 3 larvae/plant were significantly less than in the control. In addition, eggs/root system at an infestation level of 3 larvae/plant were significantly less than in the control, at all growth stages. In the reciprocal study, which examined the effect of different M. incognita inoculation levels on European corn borer stalk tunneling, no significant effect of inoculation level on European corn borer stalk tunneling was found.
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    Efficacy of Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Entomopathogenic Fungi against Masked Chafer White Grubs, Cyclocephala spp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
    Wu, Shaohui (Virginia Tech, 2013-05-07)
    Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and H. megidis) and entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) (Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana) were evaluated for efficacy against masked chafer white grub, Cyclocephala spp., under laboratory and greenhouse conditions, as well as their efficacy against various grub stages in the field.  Under both laboratory and greenhouse conditions, additive interactions were found between EPN and EPF in their combined application against Cyclocephala spp., except a few observations that showed antagonism or synergism.  Significantly greater control occurred from the combination of a nematode and a fungus compared with a fungus alone, but not compared with a nematode alone.  The combined effect did not differ significantly for nematode and fungi applied simultaneously or at different times.  EPF had no significant impact on EPN infection and production of infective juveniles (IJs) in grub carcasses.  Nematodes alone or in combination with fungi were comparable to the insecticide Merit 75 WP (imidacloprid) against 3rd instar Cyclocephala spp in the greenhouse. Efficacy of EPF and EPN varied dramatically between field sites and conditions; EPN and EPF applied alone or in combination were less effective than Merit 75 WP in >50% field trials, but some EPN + EPF treatments were more effective than the insecticide in reducing grub numbers.  EPN and EPF showed better potential than insecticides for providing extended control of white grubs in the subsequent generation.  In addition, the sub-lethal effects of EPF on southern masked chafer, C. lurida, were investigated.  Neither M. anisopliae nor B. bassiana had a sub-lethal effect on grub weight gain, adult longevity, oviposition, pupation and eclosion.  Finally, interaction between H. bacteriophora and M. anisopliae was examined to determine the potential of the nematode in improving fungal distribution in soil.  H. bacteriophora enhanced fungal distribution in sandy loam soil without grass thatch, but not in sandy soil with thatch.  In both soil types, soil depths significantly affected nematode and fungal distribution. In water profile, M. anisopliae conidia germinated hyphae that attached to sheath of H. bacteriophora IJs, which molted to detach from the fungus.  IJs mortality and virulence were not affected by the presence of M. anisopliae.
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    Environmental Best Management Practices for Virginia's Golf Courses
    Schoenholtz, Stephen H.; Goatley, Michael; Ervin, Erik H.; Hodges, Steven C.; Hipkins, Perry L.; McCall, David S.; Askew, Shawn D.; Youngman, Roger R.; Hipkins, Patricia A.; Grisso, Robert D.; Muckley, Glenn; George, Lester; Ballard, Mike; Roadley, Chuck; Lajoie, Matt; Rodriguez, Mark; Habel, Robert; Sexton, Tim; Buchen, Terry (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-01-09)
    Provides recommendations for Virginia golf courses, emphasizing water quality protection.
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    Environmental Best Management Practices for Virginia's Golf Courses
    Schoenholtz, Stephen H.; Goatley, Michael; Ervin, Erik H.; Hodges, Steven C.; Hipkins, Perry L.; McCall, David S.; Askew, Shawn D.; Youngman, Roger R.; Hipkins, Patricia A.; Grisso, Robert D.; Muckley, Glenn; George, Lester; Ballard, Mike; Roadley, Chuck; Lajoie, Matt; Rodriguez, Mark; Habel, Robert; Sexton, Tim (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2013-02-27)
    Provides recommendations for golf courses in the Commonwealth that emphasize water quality protection and have been specifically adapted for courses in Virginia using the results of current research, the experience of golf course superintendents in implementing best management practices, golf industry representatives, and state regulators.
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    European Corn Borer
    Youngman, Roger R.; Day, Eric R. (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2019-02-04)
    Describes European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubialis), its life history, and damage to crops. Also describes methods of control.