Knowing the species or variety of turfgrass in a stand helps diagnose pest problems because:

• A. Certain diseases and insect pests will affect certain species of turfgrass and will not affect others.
• B. All pests affect all species of turfgrass equally.
• C. Species determine chemical resistance only.
• D. Species are irrelevant to pest diagnosis.

Answer: (A)

Pest problems are highly influenced by the host plant. Different turfgrass species and varieties have varying susceptibility and resistance to specific diseases and insects, so knowing what grass is present helps you narrow down which pests are likely and when they’re likely to appear. This host specificity means that the same symptom can point to different pests on different species, and some pests may be common on one grass but rare on another. Recognizing the grass type guides your scouting, diagnosis, and management decisions more accurately.