Utah Lawn Insect Control
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The world of insects is enormous. Most insects pose no threat to plants or grass. However, there are a few common turfgrass insects in Utah that can cause serious damage to your lawn.
Some turfgrass insects infest the soil and attack lawn roots, some feed on the grass blades, while others suck the juice from the grass blades.
Some of the more common turfgrass insects that cause damage to lawns include:
- Various root, crown, and leaf-feeding insects such as caterpillars
- White grubs (which are the larvae of several beetle species)
- Billbugs (which are weevils with white, grub-like larvae)
- Sod webworms
- Chinch bugs
- Armyworms
- Cutworms
Surface Feeding Insects
Sod Webworm
Sod webworms are the larvae of lawn moths. They are light-colored, and they make short, erratic, darting flights above the lawn. They are attracted to lights at night. When resting, they fold their wings back closely against their bodies, which gives them a very narrow appearance. These lawn moths lay eggs in the lawn. In the early evening, they fly over the grass and females scatter eggs in the turfgrass. As soon as they are hatched, the larva (sod webworms) start feeding on the grass leaves. Sod webworms produce two to three generations each year; therefore, the damage is likely to increase as the summer wears on.
Armyworm
Armyworms are also the larvae of moths. They are 1.5 inches long, are greenish and have blackish stripes along each side and down the center of the back. The adults (moths) are brownish gray. Their wings measure about 1.5 inches across when expanded. Their feeding causes circular bare areas in lawns.
Cutworm
Cutworms are dull-brown, gray, or nearly black caterpillars and 1.5-2 inches long. Some cutworms are spotted, others are striped. Cutworms generally hide in the soil during the day and feed at night. They are the larvae of night-flying brown or grayish moths. Cutworms feed on the leaves or cut off the grass near the soil level.
Billbug
Billbugs feed on stems and grass leaves as well as grass blade roots. They can also be considered a subsurface feeder.
Chinch Bugs
Chinch bugs damage grass blades with sucking-piercing mouth parts, inhibiting water transfer within the plant. These insects live in the thatch layer of turf grass and feed on the crown area and lower sections of the grass blade. Chinch bug damage is easily overlooked because it looks similar to drought conditions. Chinch bug damage will not improve with increase watering as a drought stressed lawn would. In severe infestations (if left untreated), complete lawn loss may occur.
Subsurface Feeding Insects
Subsurface feeding insects are primarily grubs. There are many types of grubs that damage lawns and we can control all of them with our preventative insect application.
Billbug
The young, or grubs, are small and white, and have hard brown or yellow heads. They feed on the roots of grass. Adult billbugs are beetles anywhere from a half to quarter inch long. They have long snouts, or bills, that carry a pair of strong jaws or mandibles at the tip. They use these to chew their food. The beetles burrow in the grass stems near the surface of the soil and also feed on the leaves.
Billbug
Billbugs feed on stems and grass leaves as well as grass blade roots. They can also be considered a subsurface feeder.
Chinch Bugs
Chinch bugs damage grass blades with sucking-piercing mouth parts, inhibiting water transfer within the plant. These insects live in the thatch layer of turf grass and feed on the crown area and lower sections of the grass blade. Chinch bug damage is easily overlooked because it looks similar to drought conditions. Chinch bug damage will not improve with increase watering as a drought stressed lawn would. In severe infestations (if left untreated), complete lawn loss may occur.
Grub
Grubs are the larvae of various beetle species. They are fat, white with brown heads, have prominent legs with curved bodies, and measure up to one inch long. Grubs eat the roots of grasses, causing the turf to turn brown and die. Most species require two to three years to reach maturity, but some, including the Japanese beetle have a one-year life cycle. Grub-infested turf will be loose and can easily be pulled back to expose the insects.
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