Combining scalping with a miticide to control bermudagrass mite

Bermudagrass mite causes thinned and weakened bermudagrass turf. Since bermudagrass mites live under the leaf sheaths in gall-like structures (witches’ brooms) on bermudagrass, mechanical removal of turf by scalping (i.e., removing aboveground green plant tissue) may remove mite populations. Scalping turfgrass has potential as an alternative to chemical control or to be combined with chemical control. A study was conducted to determine the effect of scalping alone and combined with miticide application on bermudagrass mite populations and damage. Mite-infested bermudagrass pots were scalped, treated with miticide, both scalped and treated with miticide, or left unscalped and untreated. Miticide was applied biweekly for four total applications, starting one week after scalping. The number of witches’ brooms in bermudagrass pots were then recorded biweekly. Witches’ brooms were collected monthly to count mite populations. Scalping or miticide application provided control of bermudagrass mite, and miticide application was more effective than scalping. In combination, scalping reduced the number of witches’ brooms on miticide-treated bermudagrass compared to miticide treatment alone. Miticide application reduced mite populations, but scalping did not. This research suggests that scalping can provide an alternative control strategy to miticide application or may be used before miticide application as part of an integrated management strategy.