Here are the links to this week's OSU Turfgrass Team Times. A great 'snap-shot' of what is happening in our lawns, sport fields, and on the golf course. This is an excellent seasonal update to keep Ohioans up on their turfgrass and all of the happenings.

Last week, I came across a burr oak (Quercus macrocarpa) in a southwest Ohio city park with leaves on the lower part of the canopy dramatically embellished with a type of “saucer gall.” The galls were the handiwork of the gall wasp, Neuroterus tantulus (“Gall-Wasp” family Cynipidae).

Check out the latest and greatest edition of the OSU Turfgrass Team Times.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) has announced that the Box Tree Moth (BTM) (Cydalima perspectalis (family Crambidae) has been confirmed in southwest Ohio near the borders of Hamilton and Clermont Counties. This is the first time this non-native pest of boxwoods (Buxus spp.) has been confirmed in Ohio.

Glistening, slug-like sawfly larvae along with their characteristic skeletonizing damage are appearing on oaks belonging to the white oak group in southwest Ohio. The upper leaf surface appears bleached with leave veins remaining apparent. Flipping the leaves over reveals the slug-like culprits stuck to the underside of the leaves.

What’s wrong with my Blue Spruce? It used to be so healthy and lately, it looks terrible. What’s wrong and what can I do?

Ohio State University Extension's Ohio Woodland Stewards Program publishes the Woodlands, Water and Wildlife newsletter. The Summer Issue is out and includes the following articles: Bats in Building Research Request; Developing Small Woodland Management Service Providers from the Green Industry; The Unwanted Invaders - An Invasive Species Update; Future Foresters: Camp Canopy; and a list of upcoming classes and webinars.

Recently we received a beech leaf disease (BLD) update that was shared by Thomas Macy, Forest Health Program Manager with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry including a couple maps. Additionally, background information has been added as part of this BYGL Alert to provided more information about BLD in case readers are not aware of this situation, or would like a background refresher. 

Hydrangea Leaftier Moth (Olethreutes ferriferana, family Tortricidae) caterpillars develop inside oddball “leaf-purse” structures on wild and cultivated hydrangeas.  The beautiful native moths are grouped into the non-taxonomic category “microlepidoptera” owing to their small size.

Check out the latest Turfgrass Team Times recorded on Friday, June 16, 2023.