Name a non-chemical management approach for white grubs, chinch bugs, and billbugs respectively.

• A. White grubs – beneficial nematodes; Chinch bugs – stress turf through irrigation; Billbugs – drainage improvement and monitoring thresholds.
• B. White grubs – milky spore only; Chinch bugs – avoid irrigation; Billbugs – heavy pesticide use.
• C. White grubs – beneficial nematodes or milky spore; Chinch bugs – vigorous, well-irrigated turf to reduce stress; Billbugs – healthy turf, monitor thresholds, and improved drainage.
• D. White grubs – heat treatment; Chinch bugs – reduce mowing; Billbugs – salt application.

Answer: (C)

Non-chemical management relies on boosting plant vigor and shaping the environment to reduce pest pressure, using biologicals when appropriate and cultural practices to keep turf resilient. For white grubs, biological options like beneficial nematodes or milky spore target grub larvae in the soil without pesticides, offering a targeted, slow-release control that fits an IPM approach. For chinch bugs, a key idea is that these pests attack stressed turf, so keeping the lawn vigorous with proper irrigation minimizes stress and makes the turf less inviting for feeding and reproduction. For billbugs, healthy turf plus good drainage helps create root-zone conditions that aren’t favorable to the larvae, and pairing that with monitoring to know when action is needed avoids unnecessary interventions. Together, these strategies emphasize prevention, plant health, and environmental management over chemical controls.