Sod Webworm Treatment Video

Sod webworm treatment involves identifying the worm which is actually larvae or caterpillars which are grayish tan with brown heads. They have tiny dark spots on their body. They reach 3/4 to 1 inch when fully grown. Sod webworms hibernate in the thatch and soil as partially developed larvae. 

When They Appear

Sod Webworms reside in silk lined tunnels in the thatch and soil.  Larval activity usually resumes in April or early May. Tropical sod webworm larvae are destructive pests of warm season turfgrasses in our area.  The first sign of damage is often caused by differences in grass height in areas where larvae are feeding.

The sod webworm feeds at night, their counterpart, the army worm feeds during the day and are a little larger than the sod webworm.

Identifying Sod Webworms

You can find sod webworms by parting the grass and looking for a small C-shaped worm curled up in a green pile of their excrement at the thatch level.  What you will have found is the larval stage of the sod webworm moth.  It’s the larval stage that will crawl through the grass and chew the blades down to the root zone.

Eliminating

Eliminating them requires two treatments in order to break the life cycle of the insect.  As the eggs hatch out, that next cycle of worms will need to be treated.  The reason it’s best to call a professional exterminator is due to the volume of material that is needed to control the sod webworms.

Sod Webworm Treatment

The Peninsular technician will inspect the lawn to determine where the sod webworm has started to eat the lawn.  This is usually a brown color that is shorter than the rest of the lawn, almost as if a weed eater has attacked that area of the lawn.

During the application we start at the far corner of the lawn and treat in a back and forth pattern almost as if we’re mowing. This will thoroughly treat the entire lawn with insecticide.

Peninsular Pest Control is the Largest Local and Family owned Pest Control company in the Jacksonville Area. Serving Fleming Island, Orange Park, St Augustine and Amelia Island as well as over 15 other locations and cities.