What Eats Kalm's Brome Grass?
"Bromus kalmii," or Kalm's brome grass, is a fleeting perennial prairie grass that is native to cooler regions of the world. It's found growing in dry and moist open areas and woodlands. Kalm's brome grass grows to about 2 feet tall and its stems grow shoots of long, weeping, feathery-leaved tussocks. It blooms small white or yellow flowers in the spring and summer. Kalm's brome grass is a food source for several species of wildlife and insects. Does this Spark an idea?
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Caterpillars
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Caterpillars of the moth species Leucania multilinea feast on the leaves and shoots of Kalm's brome grass. Other caterpillar-like insects such as army worms and cutworms also defoliate the plant. For small infestations, hand-pick caterpillars off the prairie grass. More serious infestations are quashed by natural predators like parasitic wasps and spined soldier bugs. Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki, or BTK, is a bacterium that is applied to plants for caterpillars to ingest. Ingesting the pesticide causes the caterpillar to become paralyzed, stop feeding and die of starvation.
Stinkbugs
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Stinkbugs have shield-shaped bodies and range in color from green to tan to gray. When handled or disturbed, stinkbugs release a foul odor to ward off enemies. They suck the juices from the Kalm's brome prairie grass leaves and cause them to turn yellow and lose vigor. Infestations occur quickly because females lay 300 to 500 eggs each, and eggs hatch in about a week. Parasitic wasps and flies prey on stinkbugs, so encourage these natural predators by planting small, flowering plants around the Kalm's brome grass. Insecticides containing pyrethrin are also effective against stinkbugs.
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Grasshoppers
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Grasshoppers are 1 to 2 inches long and are green, brown or yellow with rugged forewings and enlarged hind legs. They eat any kind of vegetation including Kalm's brome prairie grass. Grasshopper infestations can defoliate an entire plant in a few hours. A commercially sold fungal pathogen of insects called Beauveria bassiana helps control grasshopper populations. Natural predators like birds, ground beetles, predatory flies, parasitic nematodes and blister beetle larvae also keep grasshoppers in check.
Animals
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Wildlife like rabbits and deer eat the leaves and flowers of Kalm's brome grass. Look for animal tracks, especially in the early morning. Rabbits make a clean cut in the prairie grass's foliage, while deer leave ragged marks in the leaves. Electric fences are one of the most effective ways to deter the animal pests. Commercial deer repellents are useful for repelling deer and may work for rabbits too. Gophers eat the roots of prairie grass like Kalm's brome, which may kill the plant. Deeply installed mesh wire cages and deer repellent keep gophers away.
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References
- "The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control"; Fern Marshall, et. al; 2009
- Illinois Wildflowers; Prairie Brome; John Hilty
- U.S. Department of Agriculture; Natural Resources Conservation Service; Bromus Kalmii; A. Gray
- "Southern Living Garden Problem Solver"; Steve Bender; 1999
- "Prairie-Style Gardens: Capturing the Essence of the American Prairie Wherever You Live"; Lynn Steiner; 2010
- Photo Credit Thinkstock/Comstock/Getty Images
