Ornamental and Turf Pesticide Applicators Practice Exam

What behavior is typical of Billbugs?

1. Eating grass blades at night

2. Hiding in soil during spring

3. Spinning webbing for protection

4. Grubs that can be diagnosed by pulling or rolling back turf

The correct answer is: Grubs that can be diagnosed by pulling or rolling back turf

Billbugs are a type of beetle that can cause significant damage to turfgrass, particularly in their larval stage, known as grubs. One distinctive behavior of these grubs is that they can be diagnosed by pulling or rolling back the turf. This is effective because the larvae tend to feed on the grassroots, which weakens the overall structure of the grass and can leave areas looking unhealthy or even dead. When turf is rolled back, one can often see the presence of these grubs underneath the surface, as they reside in the soil and directly impact the grass roots by feeding on them. This method of diagnosis is a practical approach for turf managers to identify and confirm an infestation, allowing for appropriate pest management strategies to be implemented. The other options do not accurately reflect the behaviors associated with billbugs. For example, while some pests may feed at night or hide in the soil during certain seasons, billbugs are specifically identified through the visible damage to turf and larvae found beneath the grass. Additionally, spinning webbing is not characteristic of billbugs, as this behavior is typical of certain insects like spiders or caterpillars.