Bermudagrass mite causes distorted and stunted growth of bermudagrass, resulting in thin, uneven, and eventually dead turf. Since bermudagrass mites live inside gall-like structures on bermudagrass shoots, physical removal of turf by scalping (i.e., mowing low) may remove mite populations. Miticides currently used to manage bermudagrass mite are expensive, inconsistent, and harmful to the environment, including natural enemies. Scalping turfgrass may provide a management strategy as an alternative to chemical control or be used in combination with chemical control. A study was conducted to determine the effect of scalping and miticide application on bermudagrass mite populations and damage. Mite-infested bermudagrass pots were scalped, treated with miticide, both scalped and treated with miticide, or left unscalped and untreated. Miticide application occurred biweekly for four total applications, starting one week after scalping treatments were administered. The number of mite-infested shoots in bermudagrass pots were then recorded biweekly. Infested shoots were collected monthly to count mite populations. Scalping and miticide application reduced damage of bermudagrass mite, and miticide application was more effective than scalping. Miticide application also reduced mite populations, but scalping did not. This research suggests that scalping can provide an alternative control strategy that avoids the negative consequences of miticide use.
