Lawn Insect Control, Marietta, Roswell, Woodstock, Kennesaw, GA

Lawn Insect Pest Problems

Many insects can damage the turf but most damage is only done by a few species of insects. As in any pest problem, the best plan of action is to first identify the problem, to make sure the problem is an insect pest related issue and not disease, human or cultural error.

It is also a good practice to understand once the pest is identified that its damage is at an acceptable level, because in some cases the cost to remove the insect pest can out way the damage the insect may be causing. The damage the insect does is often more noticeable than the insect themselves a good example of this is cases involving grubs or white grub which are in the soil just below the turf grass and feeding on the turf roots thatch debris. A large infestation can cause considerable and noticeable damage and they can attract vertebrate pest like moles which feed on the grubs.

Moles can themselves create a whole new host of problems by creating mutable tunnels along driveway and walkway edges through zigzagging through the turf, uprooting the grass. These surface runs can ruin the appearance of the lawn and cause the uprooted lawn to become susceptible to drying out as well as make a huge mess when mowing and even dulling blades. The bottom line is above ground insects are huge contributors’ signs to the likely hood of insects underground. Most grub worms are from a form of beetle which themselves are chewing insects that can attach plate leaves of grass and desired ornamental trees and shrubs.

Other insect pest that feeds on the grass sheath and leaves are bugs that go from egg to juvenile and adult feeders. Other insect pests we may never see are worms like caterpillars such as webworms, cutworms, and armyworms which feed at night but all feed on either the grass blade or stems and by clipping and dragging them into there webs like the webworm. Most lawn insects have other insects as the predator so they can keep most population to acceptable levels but, in cases with armyworms which feed only at night have less predator which allows them to do extremely large amounts of damage which can be very costly if not caught and treated quickly. Below is a guide showing where the most common insects we face in our region and where they live, feed and do the most damage during their life cycle.

Turf Feeding Insects

Japanese Beetle

feeds on desired
ornamental plants

Cut Worm Moth

Bill Bug

Army Worm Moth

Japanese Beetle grub feed on roots and organic matter and the soil thatch juction and itsself is food for moles. Heavily infested turf turns brown in dry weather and may die out in patched

The black cut worm and at night clips and feeds turf surround it burrow, esulting in brown cicles or streaks on the lawn. Damage on tall grass may not show

Bill bug larve feed and leave hollow stems and saw dust like waste called frass feed of large number of the bill bug grubs during the winter months may kill or delay green of host warm season turfgrass

The fall army worm is a yellow striped worm and are commonly found in southern an transitional turf zones. Armyworms feed together and night and can “mow” turf in an ever expanding front

Because chinch bugs tend to feed in cluster, damage first appears as circular patches of yellowing turf that resembles drought injury. Large infestions of the southern chinch bug may completely kill St. Augustinegrass lawns. They are black white bugs with sucking mouthparts