Abstract
The need for insect and mite resistant turfgrass cultivars arose because of problems associated with pesticide use. Representative cultivars and genotypes of 18 warm-season turfgrass [Zoysia japonica Steud., Z. japonica${\times}$Z. metrella hybrids, Z. japonica${\times}$Z. tenuifotia hybrids, Z. matrella (L.) Merr., Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., C. dactylon${\times}$C. transvallensis hybrids, Paspalum notatum Flugge., P. vaginatum Swartz., Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze, Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro.) and Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.] and 20 cool-season turfgrasses [Poa pratensis L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., F. rubra L., F. rubra var. commutata Gaud., F. ovina var. duriuscula L. Koch. Agrostis tenuis Sibth., A. palustris Huds., and Latium perenne L.] were evaluated for host resistance to feeding by the Spodoptera depravata (Butler) in the laboratory. Two experiments were set up in the laboratory using 8.5cm diameter${\times}$4.0cm deep plastic petri dishes as larvae feeding chambers. In experiment 1, one neonate larvae were place on the grass in each dish and the dishes were arranged with 5 replicates each within an environmental chamber maintained at $25^{\circ}C$ and 15h light: 9h dark Larval survival and larval weights at 7d and 14d, pupal weights, and days to pupation were compared among turfgrasses. In Experiment 2, 4cm sections of all grasses were oriented equidistant from each other in a pattern resembling the spokes of a wheel. Five one neonate larvae were introduced to the center of each dish. Dishes were immediately placed in an environmental chamber held at $25^{\circ}C$, 15h light: 9h dark Larvae were allowed to feed for 24h. Damage was rated from 0(no damage) to 9(completely consumed) were made for eachturfgrass. Resistance as antibiosis (high mortality, slowed growth, and least preference) was identified in Z. japonica${\times}$Z. tenuifolia hybirids ‘Emerald’, Z. japonica${\times}$Z. metrella hybirds ‘Miyako’ and Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro.). Cool-season turfgrasses tested were susceptible to feeding by Spodoptera depravata (Butler).
