Product Manual

Turf-Tec Insect Flotation Sampler
Many insects either float naturally or will float in salty water (e.g., a saturated solution of
Epson salts). This tendency can be used to collect and sample insects like chinch bugs
in turfgrass. The Turf-Tec Insect Flotation Sampler can be inserted through the thatch in
the soil and then filled with water. Within minutes insects will float to the surface where
they can be removed or counted to make population level estimates over space and
time.
A soap drench can also be used to flush out sod webworms, armyworms, mole crickets,
and caterpillars. Mix 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) of lemon dishwashing liquid in a 5-gallon
bucket (1.5 tbsp. per gallon or 22 ml). After inserting the 7” Tall Turf-Tec Insect Flotation
Sampler into the soil about 3-4 inches deep, fill the ring with the solution. Observe the
area for three minutes, counting the number of bugs that emerge. The soapy water will
irritate the insect, the insect will release its grasp, and the insect will float.
For chinch bugs, use the Turf-Tec Insect Flotation Sampler in the soil at the margin of a
yellowed area of grass. Fill the can with the solution and maintain its level above the
grass surface for five minutes as you watch for chinch bugs to float to the top.
IFS1-G - Turf-Tec Insect Flotation Sampler