Pests

A structural quality performance standard which states the maximum amount of pest damage present, as a percentage, noticeable on the sward surface. The most visual damage from grubs might be the direct effect of them feeding on plant parts producing a stressed yellow and sickly-looking sward, or from indirect effects of damage from birds pecking or badgers or foxes digging for the grubs. The standard might also state the maximum number of insect grubs counted, rather than area covered. This is achieved by expelling grubs by firstly soaking the area and then covering it with a plastic sheet to help draw the grubs onto the surface of the sward. The number of grubs per m2 could be used as a threshold figure within an IPM programme.