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Research experiments were conducted at Blacksburg Country Club.

Figure 1. A honeybee was highly exposed to fluorescent powder, used as a proxy for insecticide application when no deterrent treatment was applied( left), limited exposure when mowing was conducted prior( middle), and minimal exposure if herbicide was applied to weedy flowers in turfgrass two days before the powder application( right).

The Hidden Hazards in Turfgrass Turfgrass areas on golf courses often contain flowering weeds like white clover. While these blooms provide food resources for pollinators, they can also become sources of pesticide exposure when insecticides are applied. Pollinators foraging on treated flowers risk contact with harmful residues, adversely affecting their health and the broader ecosystem.

One strategy to mitigate this risk is quite simple: mowing. By cutting the grass and removing flowering weeds before applying insecticides, the attractive blooms are eliminated, reducing the likelihood of pollinators visiting treated areas. The team at Virginia Tech used fluorescent powder as a proxy for insecticide application in its research. This study showed that mowing immediately before insecticide proxy application

reduced the number of fluorescent powder-exposed honeybees by at least 75 %.

Another approach involves the use of herbicides to manage flowering weeds. Applying selective herbicides that target broadleaf weeds like white clover can diminish the availability of floral resources to pollinators. This minimizes their exposure to insecticide residues. The same study found that synthetic auxin herbicide treatment two days before proxy application resulted in at least a 90 % reduction in the number of fluorescent powder-exposed honeybees.

Adopting mowing and selective herbicide use before insecticide application benefits both turf health and pollinator protection. This research offers valuable guidance for balancing weed management with pollinator conservation, offering practical strategies to

NATIVE BEES: The Unsung Pollinators While honeybees often receive the spotlight, native bees are equally crucial to pollination. Virginia is home to approximately 400 native bee species, all of which are vital to local ecosystems and agriculture. The Virginia Tech study observed 1,117 bees from 23 species, over 96 % of which were native, underscoring the role of biodiversity in managed turfgrass systems.

protect pollinators while maintaining necessary pest control in turfgrass environments.

Creating Pollinator-Friendly Habitats Beyond modifying maintenance practices, golf courses can actively contribute to pollinator conservation by establishing dedicated habitats. Planting native flowers in out-of-play areas provides essential forage and nesting sites for pollinators. These habitats not only support biodiversity but also enhance the aesthetic appeal of the course.

Golf courses have the unique opportunity to serve as sanctuaries for pollinators amidst urban and suburban landscapes. By implementing thoughtful maintenance practices such as mowing before insecticide applications, carefully managing weeds, timing treatments appropriately and fostering pollinator habitats, golf course managers can play a vital role in conserving these essential insects. Such efforts ensure that golf courses remain not only places of recreation but also contributors to environmental sustainability.

Navdeep Godara is a PhD Candidate( and a VSGA Scholarship Winner), Shawn Askew is Professor and Extension Turfgrass Weed Specialist, Mike Goatley is Professor and Extension Turfgrass Specialist, and Alejandro Del Pozo is Assistant Professor and Extension Entomologist, all from Virginia Tech’ s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

VT TURFGRASS TEAM; CHRIS LANG