Patricia Vittum

Professor

Patricia J. Vittum

Agricultural Engineering Building 211

413- 545-0268

pvittum@ent.umass.edu


Education:

Ph.D. 1980, Cornell University


Classes:

  • PLSOILIN 107  Turf Entomology


Specialties:

  • Turfgrass Insects
  • Biological Control
  • Insect Behavior
  • Insect Population Ecology
  • Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • Pesticide Application Technology

My area of expertise is the biology and management of turfgrass insects. Outreach and teaching activities are a direct extension of my research efforts. Current areas of interest include:

  • the biology and ecology of white grubs (Japanese beetles and other scarab larvae), including distribution and behavioral differences of four key species
  • the population dynamics of the annual bluegrass weevil (Listronotus maculicollis)
  • refining a degree day-based model to predict development of the annual bluegrass weevil
  • biological control of annual bluegrass weevils, including entomopathogenic nematodes , spinosyns, and various strains of Bacillus thuringiensis
  • biological control of white grubs, including insect growth regulators, entomopathogenic nematodes, and bacteria
  • the effects of traditional turf insecticides on non-target arthropods
  • spatial distribution of turfgrass ants (Lasius neoniger) and management strategies to minimize damage to turf