Syngenta upgrades its annual bluegrass weevil monitoring system

Syngenta updated WeevilTrak, its annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) monitoring system with new courses, researchers and control recommendations.

“ABW activity is spreading to new locations, so we want to ensure WeevilTrak is evolving to meet the needs of superintendents through more monitoring sites and improved control products,” said Stephanie Schwenke, turf market manager for Syngenta. “Based on requests we’ve received for additional input in southern Virginia, we’ve added several new courses to the program. We’ve also improved the optimum control strategy with Provaunt WDG insecticide recommendations.”

This year, Thomas Kuhar, Ph.D., professor at Virginia Tech, and Olga Kostromytska, Ph.D., assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, have joined the WeevilTrak team of researchers. They will monitor ABW activity in their respective locations and provide monthly updates for the WeevilTrak blog.

Syngenta has also added new courses in Virginia that will serve as ABW research stations, including:

• The Federal Club in Glen Allen, Va.;
• Ballyhack Golf Club in Roanoke, Va.; and
• Blacksburg Country Club in Blacksburg, Va.

According to Syngenta, other tools available for 2019 include:

• WeevilTrak text alerts that provide timely updates on local ABW progression;
• WeevilTrak blog, regularly updated by 11 industry-leading ABW researchers and featuring 149 blog posts from the past four seasons;
• Secondary course monitoring for additional localized stage-progression information;
• A growing degree day model designed specifically for the ABW; and
• An optimum control strategy outlining a proven ABW treatment protocol, which now includes recommendations for Provaunt WDG insecticide.

Since its launch 10 years ago, the WeevilTrak program has been continuously updated to provide new resources and help superintendents stay on top of the latest trends, the company said.

“(The) ABW has historically been the most troublesome insect for golf course superintendents in the Northeast, and, in recent years, it has continued to move to other regions,” said Steve McDonald, owner, Turfgrass Disease Solutions, and managing consultant for the WeevilTrak research team. “To help superintendents combat this pest, WeevilTrak continues to provide the tools they need to stay informed on ABW activity and the control options needed to prevent damage throughout the season.”

The information through WeevilTrak is only available for subscribers. Superintendents can register and sign up for text alerts by visiting WeevilTrak.com and join WeevilTrak and ABW tracking conversations on Twitter using #WeevilTrak.