Lawn Care Articles

Don't Get Bugged Out! How to Diagnose
What's Eating Your Lawn

Insects — you know, those creepy, crawly little things — can cause a lot of problems with your lawn. They can eat the grass blades, attack the roots, or just be a total nuisance. One of the best ways to deal with a serious insect problem in your lawn is to call a professional. However, if you want to do the work yourself, you should learn how to identify some of the more common lawn insects.

First one to take care of is the immortal aphid. Aphids feed on all types of vegetation and come in a few varieties. If you get white pine aphids in your yard, they may not cause a lot of damage to your grass, but they can get into any decorative trees you may have and wreak complete havoc. There are many species of aphids, so if you think you do have a problem, it's always wise to  consult a professional.

If you live in the southern part of the United States then you're likely familiar with a major turf pest — the armyworm. An armyworm is a moth in its larval form. They feed directly on turf grasses and chew them all the way down to the ground. They most often appear in the fall which is when they feed to store up for the winter. Armyworms can cause a great deal of damage to a lawn if left untreated.

Another tough pest is the billbug. There are several different species of billbugs that attack almost any type of turf grass. The adults grow to about 3/4 of an inch in length and can be identified by their long snout. These beetles burrow in the grass stems right up by the surface of the soil and also feed directly on the grass leaves.

Another lawn pest is the chigger. Chiggers don't really do damage to the lawn itself, but if you plan to enjoy your lawn with your family, you want to avoid having a chigger problem. Chiggers are a type of mite that will attach themselves to your skin and once they're attached, they release a point that causes severe itching and stinging in order to get access to blood. They're very tiny, so often only their effects are seen rather than the mites themselves.

Another moth larva that can cause a real problem is the cutworm. Cutworms are a spotted gray or black caterpillar that is about 2 inches in length. They will hide in the soil of your lawn during the day, and then come out at night to feed on your grass. They can do severe damage especially to Bermuda grasses, bent grasses and rye grasses, their preferred food.

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Other very destructive larva is the several types of beetles, including the Japanese beetle, of course, there are the grubs. Grubs live below the surface of the lawn and feast on the roots of grass plants which will eventually destroy the plants. Grubs usually do most of their damage during the late summer months. The resulting damage, though, may not be apparent to the eye until fall rolls around and it's too late. If you are susceptible to a grub problem, you should try to get your lawn treated in the early summer when the grubs are most susceptible to treatments and pesticides.

Leafhoppers are a tiny, but destructive little pest. They are wedge shaped hopping and flying insects that are generally green in color. There are many species of leaf hopper, but most of them love to feast on lawns. They climb onto the blades of grass and suck the sap from the stems and leaves. The damage they cause will often be so severe, the lawn has to be reseeded. If you see white patches showing up in your yard, you may have a leaf hopper problem and should get it treated as soon as possible.

Insects, worms, and bugs can cause a lot of problems for an otherwise healthy lawn. There are countless types of these pests and many species within each type, but no matter which pest you're dealing with, quick identification and treatment is critically important. It's recommended that you consult a professional before treating your lawn, but by identifying the problem early on you should be able to constraint the situation it gets too serious.

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