David Shetlar

Updated: 17 April, 2000

• e-mail: shetlar.1@osu.edu
• s-mail: OSU Entomology Extension Building, 1991 Kenny Road, Columbus, OH 43210
• phone: (614) 292-9783
• fax: (614) 292-9783

• Associate Professor
• B.S. & M.S. in Zoology, University of Oklahoma
• Ph.D. in Entomology, Penn State University

Evaluation of the influence of adding composts to turf soils and turf on insect, mite and earthworm populations.
A funded IPM grant to support studies by Mike Boehm (Plant Pathology), John Street (Horticulture & Crop Sciences) and Dave Shetlar that investigate the various influences of adding composts to existing turf (bentgrass) and to soil on which turf is to be established. Current plots are two (turf establishment) to three (existing turf) years old and new plots are to be established in 2000. Significant influences have been measured related to turf establishment time, growth, productivity, and disease severity. No significant affects have been observed on insect populations at this time.

Monitoring and assessing seasonal populations of sod webworms. (In need of a Ph.D. level graduate student)
Light trap samples have been taken for approximately 15 year/locations and the sod webworms have been identified and tallied. However, these data do not help determine larval behavior during an entire season. Studies are to be initiated to take periodic samples and extract the sod webworm larvae to determine life tables.

Measuring bird activity on golf courses related to insect populations.
Bird fecal samples have been collected for approximately four years from golf courses and the Ohio State turfgrass research facility. Analysis of these samples have revealed that black birds are feeding on a wide range of insects that are actual turf inhabitants as well as occasional visitors. This study is an attempt to determine what is attracting black birds to turf (which damage the turf by extracting the insects) and develop improved management programs.

Recent Publications:

Williamson, R.C. and D.J. Shetlar. 1995. Oviposition, egg location and diel periodicity of feeding by black cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on bentgrass maintained at golf course cutting heights. J. Econ. Entomol. 88(5): 1292-1295.

Watsche, T.L., P.H. Dernoeden and D.J. Shetlar. 1995. Managing Turfgrass Pests. (wrote Chapter 3. Turfgrass insect and mite management. pp. 157-325.) Lewis Publ., CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, FL.

Shetlar, D.J. 1995. Key to Turfgrass Injury (pp. 11-13); Key to Invertebrate Turfgrass Pests (pp.14-20); Billbugs (pp. 32-34) and Cutworms (pp. 46-48). In: Brandenburg, R.L. & M.G. Villani (Eds.), Handbook of Turfgrass Insect Pests, Entomological Society of America, Lanham, MD. (140pp.)

Baxendale, F.P. and D.J. Shetlar. 1995. Mealybugs (pp. 76-77). In: Brandenburg, R.L. & M.G. Villani (Eds.), Handbook of Turfgrass Insect Pests, ESA, Lanham, MD. (140pp.)

Richmond, D.S. and D.J. Shetlar. 1996. Eclosion time and spatial distribution of overwintering spruce spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) eggs on Colorado spruce. J. Econ. Entomol. 89(2): 447-452.

Richmond, D.S. and D.J. Shetlar. 1999. Larval survival and movement of bluegrass webworm in mixed stands of endophytic perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. J. Econ. Entomol. 92(6): 1329-1334.

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