ground pearls, desperate for advice

jacek – posted 04 May 2004 19:50

I live in Mobile, Alabama and just discovered ground pearls in my centipede grass (pink adult females and nimphs-pearls). They look kind of cute if not the fact that there are multiple large spots with dying grass. Digged the ground to fing grubs (had in the past) but not this! Did some search here: only one post a year ago with no response.I’m reading on the net that it is a deadly disease for my lawn. I hope not, I have like an acre of yard to replace!!!

My lawn was a disaster from day one when I moved in (4 years ago). First poor and eroded soil (pure clay), got many trucks of topsoil and controlled erosion. Then invasions after invasions of grubs, crickets, and spittlebugs. Now, I thought I was doing OK and suddenly ground pearls! What to do??????

jacek – posted 05 May 2004 07:44

OK, did some more reading and found that adults can be controlled (but very poorly) with some insecticides. I have done that part, even thou I doubt if it will help. The nymphs are supposedly untouchable. I learned that the infestation spreads slowly, 4-6 inches a year. What about “surgical” removal of soil from affected areas with a “margin” (medical folks will know what I mean)? Do I stand a chance with this approach?

I do not feel like removal entire topsoil or switching to St Augustine. My lawn is just too big to do that.

Thanks for any advice you might have.Anyone with similar expierence?

josepht – posted 09 May 2004 12:57

that would work IF YOU CAN AFFORD IT!!!!! If not then just contact you local Co-op extenstion office and they can find you a professional that can treat this problem localy and cheaper than diging up you soil AGAIN and since you are in Alabama get used to red clay (Welcome to the SOUTH)Fescue is what you need to tryt and grow

jacek – posted 10 May 2004 09:23

Thanks for the help!OK, this is what I did over the last week and weekend (used all my spare time, damn…) and it seems to work short term.It sounds like this is my lucky timing because all the nymphs turned into females which are susceptible to some insecticides (including malathion, on sale in my local Home depot). I mapped my lawn for ground pearls with gentle digging (careful not to spread the infection). I digged up to 5 inches and sprayed the infected soil with 0.5% malathion. The adult females in digged soil (very numerous by the way) were killed on contact. I aeriated the unaffected areas and soaked with very diluted malathion. I have no ilussion that I penetrated 12 inches of soil and killed all of them but sounds like mosts of these critters live superficially. While this will probably come back, at least I know what to expect and how to approach.I retrospect, it would be much easier to have some kind of equipment to inject insecticide into soil under pressure in the affected areas.