TIGERS IN THE TURF:
POTENTIAL IMPACT
OF TIGER BEETLES
IN MANAGED TURF
Kris Braman
University of Georgia
GENERALIST PREDATORS
GEOCORIDAE
Geocoris uliginosus (Say)
Geocoris punctipes (Say)
CARABIDAE
Harpalus pennsylvanicus
De Geer
Calosoma sayi Dejean
GENERALIST PREDATORS
CARABIDAE
Megacephala carolina carolina L.
Lycosa sp. Walckenaer
FORMICIDAE
Solenopsis invicta Buren
Objectives
 Document
abundance as influenced by
ground cover including turf type
 Determine potential impact on
common turf pests
 Fall
armyworm
 Twolined spittlebug
 Japanese beetle
Methods

6 grasses (Sea Isle-1,
561-79, Cavalier,
Palisades ,TifSport,
TifEagle)


RCB design with 6
reps
Plots 25 m2
Materials and Methods
Field samples

Pitfall samples collected weekly for 16
weeks ; 6 May- 29 Aug

Split plot design with grass genotype as whole plots
Dates as the split plot for repeated measures analysis
Means separated using LSD
Orthogonal contrasts to identify influence of turf
genera on arthropod community structure



Turf genotype affects arthropod
abundance (pitfall samples)
Turf Genotype
Sea Isle 1
561-79
Cavalier
Palisades
TifSport
TifEagle
Carabidae
2.1 bc
1.9 c
1.9 c
1.6 c
2.6 b
3.4 a
Cicindellidae
0.7 b
1.8 a
0.2 b
0.1 b
0.3 b
1.8 a
Orthogonal contrasts, pitfall samples
Contrast Carab. Staph. Cicind.
Araneae
B vs Z
***
NS
***
NS
P vs B
***
NS
NS
NS
P vs Z
NS
NS
***
NS
Tiger beetles

Most numerous in 561-79 paspalum and
‘TifEagle’ bermudagrass

Arthropod predator occurrence and performance…. Braman
et al. 2003. Environ. Entomol. 32: 907-914
Influence of commercially available wildflower mixes
on beneficial arthropod abundance and predation in
turfgrass
Braman et al. 2002. Environ. Entomol. 564-572
Mean number of tiger beetles in flower mixes,
wheat straw mulch or in grasses with flower or
mulch borders
Contrast
Year 1
Year 2
Smith Mix
Border Patrol
Mulch
Bermuda- SM
.31
.26
.59
.14
.32
.27
1.36
.09
Bermuda-BP
Bermuda-Mulch
Zoysia-SM
.12
.14
.07
.08
.07
.02
Zoysia-BP
Zoysia-Mulch
P=
.09
.12
0.002
.09
.22
0.0001
Experimental arena
Mean number of prey killed/24h
Functional response of M. carolina carolina on
P. bicincta and S. frugiperda in single-prey system
10
8
6
4
2
0
1
3
5
7
9
11
Prey density
S. frugiperda
P. bicincta
15
Comparison of the total prey consumed by M. carolina
carolina during 24 h.
1.0
Proportion of prey killed in 24 h
0.9
0.8
Prey alone
Both prey together
a
b
ab
0.7
0.6
c
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
P. bicincta
S. frugiperda
Total prey type available per arena
Nachappa et al. J. Econ Entomol. In review
White grubs
Consumption of Japanese beetle eggs or 1st
instars during 24 h (petri dish trials)
M. carolina
Number eaten
6
5
a
a
H. pennsylvanicus
a
4
3
b
2
1
0
JB Eggs
JB 1st instars
Consumption of Japanese beetle
eggs in soil (1-day)
H. pennsylvanicus
M. carolina
H. pennsylvanicus
a
35
Proportion eaten
Number eaten
M. carolina
90
80
30
a
25
70
b
60
a
20
b
15
5
40
b
a
10
50
30
20
b
10
0
0
10
20
30
Prey density
40
Consumption of Japanese beetle
eggs/larvae in soil (1-week)
H. pennsylvanicus
M. carolina
H. pennsylvanicus
45
120
a
40
100
b
35
a
30
25
60
b
15
a
b
80
a
b
20
10
Proportion eaten
Number eaten
M. carolina
40
20
5
0
0
10
20
30
Prey density
40
Consumption of Japanese beetle
eggs/larvae in soil (3-week)
H. pennsylvanicus
M. carolina
H. pennsylvanicus
45
a
a
40
Proportion eaten
Number eaten
M. carolina
120
100
a
35
30
25
a
b
20
15
10
80
b
60
40
a
b
20
5
0
0
10
20
30
Prey density
40
Conclusions



The tiger beetle M. carolina occurs in turf and
landscape beds in synchrony with common pests
M. carolina’s abundance was influenced by
turfgrass type and surrounding “habitat”
The common turfgrass pests S. frugiperda, P.
bicincta, and P. japonica were suitable prey for M.
carolina in laboratory studies
Conclusions



In laboratory evaluations, M. carolina exhibited a
Type II functional response to P. bicincta and S.
frugiperda
Greater numbers of S. frugiperda than P. bicincta
were captured by adult M. carolina when only one
type of prey was present
In a “two-prey” system this difference was even
more apparent; S. frugiperda was more frequently
killed
Conclusions


In petri dish trials, M. carolina and H.
pennsylvanicus consumed similar numbers of P.
japonica eggs
M. carolina consumed more first instar P. japonica
larvae than H. pennsylvanicus in petri dish assays
however….
Conclusions

When M. carolina and H. pennsylvanicus adults
were confined with different densities of P.
japonica (initially as eggs) for three weeks in soil,
H. pennsylvanicus consumed a greater proportion of
prey at all densities on day 2 and 1 week.
 Numbers consumed by week 3 were similar at the
highest density, but still lower for M. carolina at lower
densities

Implications and Research Needs




M. carolina is a prominent predator in turf that ..
Demonstrated potential to suppress three
common turfgrass pests in laboratory trials
Laboratory evaluations in simplistic systems are
insufficient to define comparative predatory
potential
Field assessment of predator impact is required