Comparing predation in residential turfgrass and sod farms

Turfgrass covers 163,812 km² of land and generates $40-60 billion annual revenue in the U.S. The occurrence and abundance of predatory arthropods were reported in the residential lawns and golf courses. However, little is known about the predaceous activity in commercial sites, such as sod farms, and its comparison with activity in residential settings. Predaceous activity was assessed using 1) sentinel clay models mimicking fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (JE Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae, (2) live sentinel third instar of FAW, and 3) time-lapse images of predation on live sentinel larvae. Impressions on clay models and predation on the live third instar FAW were significantly lower in the sod farms than in residential lawns. The time-lapse images revealed a lower predaceous activity by ants in the sod farms than in the residential lawns.