Abundance and Seasonal Activity of Arthropod Predators in St. Augustinegrass Lawns in Florida
St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) lawns in southern Florida were surveyed for arthropod predators. Three sampling methods (vacuum, irritant, visual) were used to obtain a more complete assessment of predators present in the lawns. Seasonal activity of predators also was measured using pitfall traps. Ants were the most abundant predators recovered with 91% of all predators in the survey. The second most abundant group was spiders. The red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, was found more frequently and in greater abundance than any other predator. Predators were active the entire year with total predator catches in traps highest in the summer, intermediate during fall and spring, and lowest in the winter.