How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

| More pests | More crops | About guidelines |

Turfgrass

Fiery Skipper

Scientific Name: Hylephila phyleus

(Reviewed 6/03, updated 6/03)

In this Guideline:

Description of the pest
Susceptible species
Damage
Management

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST
Adult fiery skippers closely resemble butterflies but have a hooked knob at the end of their antennae. They have orange or orange-brown wings and are commonly seen feeding on lantana blossoms. Adult females glue hemispherical eggs singly to the underside of grass leaves. Newly hatch larvae notch leaves. As they grow, they consume entire leaves. The larva is about 1 inch long and has what appears to be an oversized black head, a narrowed "neck" followed by a dark thoracic shield, and a greenish brown body color with a granulated texture. Larvae spin silk shelters in the thatch from the third instar on, and are not readily seen unless flushed out with a drench test.

SUSCEPTIBLE SPECIES
Bermudagrass is preferred by fiery skippers, although they also feed on St. Augustinegrass, bentgrass, and occasionally other turfgrasses.

DAMAGE
Skipper larvae feed from May through September. Damage appears as a 1- or 2-inch diameter round spot from which all the grass has been eaten by a single larva. If there is a large population, then these spots will coalesce into dead patches. Usually damage appears on turfgrass planted near flower beds, where adult skippers feed.

MANAGEMENT
If skipper larvae are damaging turfgrass, dethatch the turfgrass to eliminate larval habitat. If monitoring indicates treatment is warranted, treatment choices include parasitic nematodes and Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt).

Biological Control
Larvae are attacked by parasitic braconid and ichneumonid wasps. The extensive soil or thatch contact of fiery skipper larvae may make Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes a valuable control measure, although this has not been tested. Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (Bt) may also be effective against fiery skipper, although more testing is needed to determine its efficacy for this purpose.

Monitoring and Treatment Decisions
Use the drench test to monitor this pest (see section on MONITORING under GENERAL INFORMATION). Five larvae per square yard on bentgrass greens and 15 per square yard in bermudagrass indicate treatment thresholds.

Mow the lawn and irrigate the site before applying insecticide, and do not mow or irrigate the turfgrass for at least 24 hours after treatment unless nematodes were applied, in which case apply a post-treatment irrigation. When Bt is applied, do not irrigate for 2 days after treatment.

Common name

(trade name) Amount/1000 sq ft**

Many of these products are available for use by licensed applicators only and cannot be used by home gardeners.

A. BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS ssp. KURSTAKI

(various products) Label rates

COMMENTS: Breaks down rapidly in sunlight and washes readily off leaves. Do not irrigate for 2 days after treatment.

B. CARBARYL*

(Sevin) 80WSP 1.5-3 fl oz

C. CHLORPYRIFOS

(Dursban Pro) 1.5 fl oz

(Dursban ) 50W WSP* 0.75 oz

COMMENTS: For use in turfgrass production and on golf courses only. This product is highly toxic to birds and aquatic invertebrates. State and federal agencies have determined that waterways have been impaired by the use of this material. Do not apply in such a manner that it will get into storm water drains.COMMENTS: For use in turfgrass production and on golf courses only. This product is highly toxic to birds and aquatic invertebrates. State and federal agencies have determined that waterways have been impaired by the use of this material. Do not apply in such a manner that it will get into storm water drains.

D. STEINERNEMA CARPOCAPSAE 25 million

COMMENTS: Store nematodes properly before use as directed. Apply to warm, moist, but not soggy soil. Several irrigations may be needed during 2 weeks after application to keep soil moist. Apply during the coolest time of day in hot areas.COMMENTS: Store nematodes properly before use as directed. Apply to warm, moist, but not soggy soil. Several irrigations may be needed during 2 weeks after application to keep soil moist. Apply during the coolest time of day in hot areas.

** Apply in 2-5 gal water/1000 sq ft

* Permit required from county agricultural commissioner for purchase or use.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Turfgrass
UC ANR Publication 3365-T
Insects and Mites
H. S. Costa, Entomology, UC Riverside
R. S. Cowles, Entomology, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, Windsor, CT
M. A. Harivandi, UC Cooperative Extension, Alameda Co.
J. Hartin, UC Cooperative Extension, San Bernardino Co.
H. K. Kaya, Nematology, UC Davis
Acknowledgment for contributions to the insect and mite section:
K. Kido, Entomology, UC Riverside

Top of page

For noncommercial purposes only, any Web site may link directly to this page. FOR ALL OTHER USES or more information, read Legal Notices. Unfortunately, we cannot provide individual solutions to specific pest problems. See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/r785300811.html revised: May 20, 2005. Contact webmaster.