Mach 2 making sod webworm WORSE?

[naturescape]

I have tried Merit, Mach 2 and Aloft. When I first started I used Merit (about mid July 3 seasons ago) and in many cases had to re-treat everything with dylox as sod webworm damage was horrible that year.

Then I tried Mach 2 last year and it seemed to give me the most problems of anything I've used. (Last year I used the Mach 2 from early July to early August, and sod webworm damage was bad across the board, did not seem to depend on when the product was put down.)

This year I used Merit, Mach 2 and Aloft (all 3 have been applied starting second week of July) on different properties, and while the Aloft has given me the best results, I think I'm getting WAY too much damage from sod webworms, considering the Mach 2 and Aloft should treat those insects.

I understand there are 3 generations of sod webworm per year, but I can't charge my customers for 3 applications of insect control, and don't want to put down that much chemical in the first place.

I am considering not using ANY insect control next year -- maybe applying Sevin IF there is an insect problem developing? I am thinking that using either Merit, Mach 2, or Aloft is making the actual insect problem WORSE. Has anyone else had that problem?

I would consider spraying beneficial nematodes, but that is simply too hard to do -- has to be put down preferably in the evening, needs to be watered in right away and kept watered. Many customers won't do that.

I'm considering next year telling customer their best defense against lawn damaging insects, drought, and disease is to water their lawn REGULARLY and PROPERLY. PROPER watering seems to be the surest way to guard against all these problems, I think they should put their money to the best use.

[LawnTamer]

Turf that is properly watered and fertilized will have a higher threshold before damage appears. I'm not sure of when your SWW first appears, but here, late May would be the time to put down Merit. I have used Merit in the past, but it is very expensive. The last two years, I have used Bifenthrin and treated SWW as it appears with pretty good success. Not much more damage, if any, than when I was using Merit.

[naturescape]

Well, Merit won't treat sod webworms at all.....

Any other opinions on this? If I could JUST get customers to water properly. All I can do is advise them, I can't make them!

But does anyone agree that using these chemical "controls" is possibly making things WORSE?

[heritage]

I used Mach II again this year, and applied it end of June.

We had rain within a week of all the apps.

Still very little SWW Damage on my Treated Lawns....I have use NO other Insecticides on my lawns this season.

SWW are REAL BAD all around me.

So I would not be to quick that Mach 2 does not work.

If you want to go the Talstar/Crosscheck/Bifenthrin route at this point fine.

Be SURE you have "Active" Larve (not just adult moths which could fly from untreated lawns)......So a lemon joy soap flush where the green meets the brown chewed stumps.

If larve come out, Treat lawn with LIQUID Bifen, and DO NOT water or MOW for 2 days.....The larve have to EAT the poison on the leaves.

Merit will supress Cutworms but NO CONTROL for the SWW.


I still sware by the Dow Brand, Mach II.

But I have few who agree.

Hope they dont stop selling it.

Pete

[whoopassonthebluegrass]

Merit isn't labeled for SWW. For my problematic yards I've treated with bifenthrin for rounds 3 and 4. So far so good. I'll apply this 5th round, as well.

[NINER]

used allectus for the last two years neigborhoods infested with them and i am winning the battle. it last all the way through august in 90% of apps depending on rain and irrrigation.

[greendoctor]

I like Dylox SP for sod web worm and armyworm. Simply because it is not related to bifenthrin. Because of the year round pest season here, I need to rotate between Sevin, a "thrin" and Dylox. Fail to do that and I might create "superbug".