Attacks are most common in grass 12 inches or more in height
with dense growth and an accumulation of dead plant litter on
the soil surface. Early identification of spittlebug requires look-
ing deep into the crown of affected grass. Damage appears as
areas of dead grass which develop rapidly in the normally green
forage. Light infestations produce scattered tufts of dying stems
that often go unnoticed or for which casual inspection reveals no
cause. A heavily infested pasture has a brown and dry aspect
such as that of an area following a killing frost (Figure 12).
Extensive spittlebug damage lowers the palatability and nutri-
tional value for grazing or harvesting and may reduce or almost
destroy the stand of pangolagrass.

 Other Insects

 Leafhoppers (several species) are commonly found on pango-
 lagrass during the summer, but damage is not drastic and occurs
 when forage is plentiful. No control measures are recommended.
 Rhodes grass scale [Antonina graminis (Mask.) ] has been found
 damaging pangolagrass to a limited extent. Mole crickets
 (Scapteriscus spp.) may attack but are not of general im-
 portance on pangolagrass.

 Insect Control

 There are three approaches to controlling or reducing the
 insect problems associated with pangolagrass.

 Grazing

 Heavy grazing of insect-infested grass by cattle is recom-
 mended whenever animal numbers and size of area permit.
 Rapid removal of herbage is essential. It opens the stand and
 allows access to birds and promotes drying of the grass crowns.
 This is most useful with worms and spittlebugs and helpful with
 aphids.

 Harvesting

 A second possibility is removal of top growth for hay or silage.
 This prevents further quality decline and usually brings insect
 activity to a halt although aphids and spittlebugs may continue
 to be a problem in close-clipped grass.