Sod Webworm Video
Sod Webworms or Army Worms
Sod Webworms damage is often noticed by homeowners when they see damage to their lawn. The grassblades in the lawn will appear shorter than the rest of the lawn. It almost looks like someone has taken a weed eater to areas of the lawn.
We have received many more calls about Sod Webworms this year than in seasons past. You may notice small moths, which are uncontrollable, flying in your lawn. These Migratory Moths randomly lay eggs, producing caterpillars. The damage from these caterpillars make the lawn appear like it was mowed too short. It is important to note that damage from these insects will generally recover within 2 -3 weeks during the growing season. Also, please understand the adult moths itself does not eat the grass, and when in numbers are just a simple nuisance.
To check your lawn for sod webworms, simply go to that damaged area of the lawn and part the grass. What you will find is tiny worms, which are the larval stage. What most likely drew your attention to the problem originally, are the next stage of the larvae. The worm is gray to tan with small dark spots on the body and brown heads. They reach 3/4 to 1 inch when fully grown.
Accordng to IFAS/Extension at the University of Florida, the sod webworm larvae are destructive pests of warm season turfgrasses in the southeastern US, especially on newly established sod, lawns, athletic fields, and golf courses. Tropical sod webworms are part of a pest complex of warm season turf caterpillars in Florida that include fall armyworm,
Peninsular Pest Control treats Florida homes and lawns for: Termite Service/Guarantees, Sentricon®, Termidor®, Interior Pest Treatment for: bed bug control, spider extermination, carpet beetle pest control, cockroach extermination, silverfish extermination, cicada control, ants, ghost ants, fleas. Lawn and Turf Insect Treatment, Lawn aeration, weed Control, Pre-Emerging weed treatment, Mosquito Control, Wasp Control, Flea treatment in lawn and home, Grub worms, sod webworms, chinch bugs, mole crickets, fungus, Shrub Treatment, Carpenter Ant control, Rodent removal.
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If you are seeing moths in your yard, it’s most likely the adult stage of the sod webworm. The larva stage of the moth does all of the damage to your lawn, eating the grass down to the roots. The result is a brown area of your lawn that is much shorter than the rest of the grass, almost as if a weed eater has cut it down. These worms are treatable but, to get rid of them completely two treatments are necessary in order to kill the eggs as they hatch.