Which generation tends to cause the greatest damage in Kansas?

• A. Second-generation larvae
• B. First-generation larvae
• C. Both generations equally
• D. Adults cause most damage

Answer: (A)

Larval feeding is what damages turf, not the adult stage. In Kansas, many turf pests have two generations per year, and the second generation tends to cause the most damage because those larvae are often more numerous and reach larger sizes when the turf is stressed by heat and drought in late summer. The combination of more feeding days and more developed larvae leads to greater feeding injury, making the second-generation larvae the primary source of damage. Adults don’t feed heavily on turf, so they’re not responsible for the damage seen.