Environmental Entomology (1982) 11, 29-31

John H. Falk (1982)
Response of two turf insects, Endria inimica and Oscinella frit to mowing
Environmental Entomology 11 (1), 29-31
Abstract: A field study on the effects of repeated mowing on turf-inhabiting populations of Endria inimica Say and Oscinella frit L. was conducted. The insects were provided with a temporal choice of recently mowed turf versus turf not recently mowed.
Endria showed no indication of lawn switching as a function of mowing, nor evidence of mowing-induced mortality. Oscinella displayed a strong mowing-related response. The frit flies apparently move off of not recently mowed turf onto newly mowed turf, peak movement being detected at 1 h after mowing, but within 24 h no differences between the numbers of flies on recently mowed turf versus not recently mowed turf could be detected.
The study suggests that, for the two turf-adapted species studied, mowing is not a negative factor, and that, for Oscinella frit, it may even be beneficial.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
environment - cropping system/rotation
population dynamics/ epidemiology

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Oscinella frit	Grasses/turf/rangeland	U.S.A. (NE)
	Endria inimica	Grasses/turf/rangeland	U.S.A. (NE)