Environmental Entomology (1988) 17, 63-66

Bradford M.R. Kard and Fred P. Hain (1988)
Influence of ground covers on white grub (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) populations and their feeding damage to roots of fraser fir Christmas trees in the southern Appalachians
Environmental Entomology 17 (1), 63-66
Abstract: A field experiment was conducted during 1984-85 to evaluate the influence of six ground covers on white grub (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) densities and feeding damage to roots of young Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.) Christmas trees in the southern Appalachians. The three dominant grub species were Phyllophaga anxia (LeConte) Glasgow, Phyllophaga fusca (Froelich) Glasgow, and Polyphylla comes Casey. Ground covers were fescue (Festuca elatior L. cv. Kentucky-31), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. Mt. Barker), and dead sod-entire plot herbicide. Mowed grass plots supported the densest grub populations (x[bar] = 32.3 to 43.0 grubs per m²) when compared with clover and dead sod plots (x[bar] = 13.3 to 16.1 grubs per m²), and contained fir trees with the most severe feeding damage to roots, poorest health, and lowest wood volumes.
(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
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Phyllophaga fusca	Fir (Abies)	U.S.A. (SE)
	Phyllophaga anxia	Fir (Abies)	U.S.A. (SE)
	Polyphylla comes	Fir (Abies)	U.S.A. (SE)