It’s been a dry year until the onset of Autumn so most turf managers are hoping the leatherjacket’s won’t have enjoyed that.
The unfortunate truth is that on irrigated surfaces, like greens and tees if there is enough moisture to keep turf alive then there is enough food and water available for them to feed.
As you can see from the PestTracker graph at the top, by November we are right in the tail of the peak flight.
With crane fly sightings really dropping off a cliff by now.
You may still see the odd crane fly on the wing, but if you haven’t already sprayed don’t hold out any longer, find a spray day ASAP.
We need the Acelepryn to move to the grub feeding zone and be taken up before it gets too cold, or dry (unlikely), for the grubs to feed near the surface.
The period between egg hatch and the onset of winter proper is a vital time for leatherjacket larvae.
They will feed ferociously with the aim to put on enough weight to survive until spring.
This is why timing is key to Acelepryn success we have to hit them at this tender stage when they are taking on vast quantities of food for their size.
Adults do not actively feed so can’t be targeted effectively, and late instar grubs are much less susceptible to treatments.
If you are supporting your treatment with a Nematrident F that should be out by now also, watch the video for all the hints and tips for getting it done right.
The best spray teams I’ve witnessed making nematode applications have a short checklist they run through to make the process as simple as possible.
