Annual bluegrass weevil is a growing and ever-changing challenge for golf courses that requires an equally fluid and variable response. To that end, updates to Syngenta's WeevilTrak are designed to make it even easier for superintendents to monitor and manage annual bluegrass weevil. And with 31 course now reporting on ABW activity, WeevilTrak's reach also is now longer than it's ever been.The two newest features of the online ABW management tool are CrowdTrak and a growing degree days tool.
The new CrowdTrak feature allows superintendents to report their own WeevilTrak.com data that will help other superintendents in the Northeast make the most accurate predictions possible.
The Growing Degree Days model calculates GDD data for superintendents based on zip code and has been calibrated specifically to provide data for monitoring ABW development.
Other recent WeevilTrak updates include a new blog updated by independent researchers, including Albrecht Koppenhoffer, Ph.D. of Rutgers, Ben McGraw, Ph.D., of Penn State, Dan Peck, Ph.D., of Cornell, Pat Vittum, Ph.D., of UMass, Rick Brandenburg, Ph.D., of NC State and Steve McDonald of Turfgrass Solutions, and the Syngenta Optimum Control Strategy that provides information on control programs based on factors such as resistance to some active ingredients and the life stage of the pest at any given time.
The system also sends automatic email notifications on ABW activity in a specific area based on a list of golf courses each user chooses to follow.