Mealybug Control Round 2
This is the second round of our Tuttle mealybug control program.
This program was designed specifically for Tuttle mealybugs, a rare and unusually resilient pest of zoysia lawns that can be extremely difficult to control.
Because this insect is so persistent, Round 2 is an important part of the overall strategy. The goal is not just to reduce active feeding, but to further suppress the population and interfere with the next generation.
Why a Second Treatment is Needed
Tuttle mealybugs are not a pest that can always be solved with a single application.
They are:
difficult to reach
difficult to fully eliminate
capable of surviving light treatment pressure
prone to rebounding if control efforts are not sustained
What Round 2 Is Designed to Do
Round 2 is applied sequentially 14 to 20 days after the first treatment.
This treatment is focused on two goals:
1. Adult Suppression: A targeted systemic insecticide is used to continue reducing the active population feeding within the lawn.
2. Reproductive Control: An Insect Growth Regulator is included to help disrupt the reproductive cycle and suppress future generations.
This second round uses a different chemical class than the first treatment. That is important because it helps avoid repeatedly applying the same chemistry to the pest, which can increase the risk of tolerance over time.
Product Details
This treatment combines two different approaches to improve the odds of meaningful control.
How it works:
A systemic insecticide moves into the plant and affects mealybugs as they feed
An Insect Growth Regulator helps disrupt development and reproduction
The chemistry is intentionally different from Round 1 to reduce the risk of building tolerance
This late-season timing helps target the pest during the part of the year when outbreaks are often more noticeable and damaging
In short, Round 2 is designed to do more than just knock numbers back. It is meant to help break the cycle.
Is This Program Organic or Safe?
This is not an organic program.
Unfortunately, there are no truly viable organic options for controlling Tuttle mealybugs at the level needed to protect an infested lawn. These products have been selected because they offer the best balance of effectiveness and safety available for a very difficult pest, but they are still chemical insecticides, and they are far from ideal.
Important Notes
This program can have negative effects on soil biology
We encourage extra caution after each application
Keep kids and pets out of the treated area until the application has dried and it is safe to re-enter
The organic inputs used in our fertility programs help support the re-establishment of healthier soil ecology over time
This is one of those situations where there simply are no perfect options. Our goal is to choose the least bad option that still gives the lawn a realistic chance at recovery.
Does The Turf Pest Prevention Treatment Control Mealybugs?
There is some trial data and evidence that suggest the active ingredient in our Turf Pest Prevention treatment provides some level of Tuttle Mealybug control.
However, in most studies, the Turf Pest Prevention product has shown “poor to moderate” control of insects with sucking mouthparts, such as mealybugs.
Unfortunately, Turf Pest Prevention is not a reliable means of control, but it can offer some assistance.
Will this Second Treatment Fully Eliminate The Problem?
Hopefully, this two-treatment program will eradicate a large percentage of the population, if not the entire infestation. However, because Tuttle mealybugs are still relatively new to our region, we want to be careful not to overpromise. At this stage, we cannot guarantee complete eradication in every case.
There are simply too many variables, including:
how long the infestation has been present
how widespread it is
how much thatch is in the lawn
whether surrounding lawns may still be harboring mealybugs
What we can say is that this program gives your lawn the most aggressive and informed approach we currently have.
Pre & Post-Treatment Instructions
Allow at least 1 hour before re-entry.
We will leave a clearly visible service sign with the date and time of application, so you and your maintenance crew can easily follow the recommended re-entry window. This helps protect anyone working in the landscape and ensures the treatment is not disrupted before it has time to fully take effect.
There is NO need to water this treatment in.
Stop Pest Damage Before It Starts
