Sod Webworm

Lawns are looking luscious and green after a wealth of rain, however there are a few lawn pests starting to emerge that could take all of that beauty away. Here is some helpful information on pests and diseases we are seeing right now on lawns:

Notice small white moths zig zagging across your lawn? These moths are the adult form of the sod webworm, and though are busy laying eggs, do not cause any damage to your lawn.

If you see the moth, try to reduce their population by stepping on them. The grubs, however, which are the immature stage of the webworm, feed on roots of the sod, causing brown patches in the lawn. Damage is most evident in July and August, when the growth of the grass has slowed, and the lawn is unable to quickly recover.

Note that the presence of moths does not necessarily mean the larvae are in your soil; moths are able to fly great distances and may be coming from other infested areas. To determine if grubs are present, flush a mixture of 2 tbsp. soap with 2 gallons of water into the soil. This will usually bring larvae to the surface.

If the larvae are present Wilson’s Sevin or Wilson’s Grub Out can be applied. If chemicals are a concern, Nematodes are a biological organism that can be mixed in water and applied to the lawn – they are very effective. These can be found under the brand name Grub Buster.

Be sure to follow the directions for lawn application. Product should be applied to a moist lawn (so product sinks in), and late in the evening, when larvae are most actively feeding.