Name two common lawn pests and a cultural control for each in Wisconsin.

• A. White grubs (may beetle larvae) – improve lawn health with proper mowing, fertilization, and aeration
• B. Chinch bugs – apply broad-spectrum pesticides
• C. White grubs – water deeply to disrupt larvae
• D. Chinch bugs – mow low to reduce moisture

Answer: (A)

Strengthening the lawn through smart cultural practices is a key way to manage common pests without relying on chemicals. White grubs, a frequent Wisconsin pest, damage turf by feeding on roots, so boosting turf health through proper mowing height, balanced fertilization, and periodic aeration helps the grass recover faster and reduces the impact of grub feeding. Among the options, this pairing best represents a cultural approach to pest management. The other choices rely on pesticides or unrelated practices (such as mowing very short or attempting to disrupt larvae with watering), which aren’t the recommended cultural controls for these pests. Note that chinch bugs are also common in Wisconsin, and a cultural strategy for them focuses on maintaining a healthy, properly watered and mominated turf rather than chemical control.