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You are not the only one to appreciate your pretty green grass and very thick. Some pests and pests take pleasure in choosing to live under the ground or between grasses and feed on them. But they can cause a lot of damage. Recognize the main pests and pests of the turf to better eliminate them.

Coleoptera larvae or white worms

The beetles are insects with 2 pairs of wings whose upper wings (elytra) are rigid and form a carapace. The best known in our region are beetles, cockchafers, ground beetles, beetles, etc. Larvae or white worms devour the roots, rhizomes and neck of herbs. In large quantities, they can destroy a good part of your lawn. They are white and curved C-shaped.
Where, the white grubs have taken up residence, the grass is yellowed, browned and soon whole clumps of grass break off and die.

  • TreatmentIf there are too many grubs use a pesticide. You can also use Nematodes Hb (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora). Freed on your lawn, these microscopic worms parasitize and kill white grubs.
  • Prevention: Regularly scarify and aerate your lawn.

The larvae of cranes

The cranes are Diptera resembling large mosquitoes. They are commonly called "cousins". The female lays her eggs in the turf during the summer and after hatching, the larvae devour the grass shoots until the following spring. A large amount of larvae weaken the lawn which turns yellow, brown before withering away.

  • Treatment: Use a pesticide or Nematodes Sc (Steinernema carpocapsae). Freed on your lawn, these microscopic worms will attack the crane larvae. In the evening, water the infected place and cover it with plastic. The next morning, you will be able to pick up a large quantity of larvae. Repeat the operation regularly.
  • Prevention: Regularly scarify and aerate your lawn. Drain the ground because the cousin likes wet places.

Moth caterpillars or gray worms

Moths are gray-brown moths of about 4 cm wingspan. Caterpillars called "gray greens" reach up to 5 cm long. They feed at night, on the ground, devouring the roots and damaging the grass stems.

  • Treatment: Use a pesticide or Nematodes Sc (Steinernema carpocapsae). Released on your lawn, these microscopic worms will attack the noctuid larvae. At night, you can pick up the caterpillar by hand. Good hunt!
  • Prevention: Regularly scarify and aerate your lawn.

Wireworm or Wireworm

The wireworm is a beetle. Its larva is a green-yellow worm. She stays several years in the ground before transforming herself to become an adult.
In the soil, the wireworm eats the roots and the base of the grass shoots. Young lawns are particularly sensitive to his attacks.

  • Treatment: Use a pesticide. Plant a half potato and tamp the soil around. The worms will rush to that lunch you offer them. Regularly remove the potato with its unwanted guests.
  • Prevention: Regularly scarify and aerate your lawn because wireworms love wet and well packed places.

In all cases of pest attack, do not forget to mow your lawn regularly (but too shave) and bring a balanced fertilizer to help compensate for damage to the roots.

Your allies in the fight against pests: Birds, hedgehogs, shrews and even the moles that otherwise leave unsightly molehills, love these larvae and worms. So, do not forget to leave some of your garden a little home so that they feel a little at home... and find open table.

Learn more about turf diseases, treatments and prevention.

Pests and pests of turf

FAQ - 💬

❓ What is the most common damaging insect pest on turf?

👉 Grubs (Beetle Larvae) Among the most damaging of all lawn pests, white grubs (Phyllophaga species) are the larvae of a wide variety of scarab beetles, including masked chafers and Japanese beetles.

❓ What are the top three turf damaging insects in the US?

👉 What are the top five worst turf insects? In residential lawns, business park and campus grounds, there are many insects that cause damage, including sod webworms, chinch bugs, billbugs, cutworms and armyworms.

❓ Which is the most common insect pest in St Augustine lawns?

👉 The southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber, is one of the most important insect pests of St. Augustinegrass in Texas. It can be a problem anywhere St. Augustine grass is grown, causing most damage in the Gulf Coast region and in the southern half of the state.

❓ Which of the following are stages that occur in a simple incomplete life cycle of an insect?

👉 Complete and incomplete metamorphosis are two types of growth forms in insects. The complete metamorphosis occurs through four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The incomplete metamorphosis occurs through three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. The pupa stage is not developed during incomplete metamorphosis.

❓ What is a turf pest?

👉 Turf damaging insects are those that feed on the grass blades, stems, or roots and can harm your grass. These include leafhoppers, chinch bugs, billbugs, grubs, etc.

❓ What are turf bugs?

👉 Turfgrass insects can be broadly grouped according to where they reside within the turf profile; above- or below-ground . Above-ground pests include caterpillars, billbugs and chinch bugs that feed on the stems, crowns and leaves of plants.

❓ What is a turf grass pest?

👉 These are microscopic parasitic worms which only feed on specific insects. Because they are very small they have to be used at the correct time of year and in exactly the correct conditions of soil moisture and temperature. Their use is economical when the lawn is small but would be impractical on a field scale.

❓ What bugs kills St Augustine grass?

👉 he southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber, is one of the most impor- tant insect pests of St. Augustine- grass in Texas. It can be a problem anywhere St. Augustinegrass is grown, causing most damage in the Gulf Coast region and in the southern half of the state.

❓ What is the best bug killer for St Augustine grass?

👉 Answer: Talstar PL granules are one of the most effective chinch bug treatments on the market. Chinch bugs infest the base of grass plants and are often found in the thatch layer.

❓ What are the 5 stages of insect development?

👉 Developmental stages

  • Egg.
  • Larva.
  • Pupa.
  • Imago.

❓ What are insects called before they grow up?

👉 Larva: The immature form (between egg and pupa) of insects with complete metamorphosis. (Stages between molts of the exoskeleton are called instars). Pupa: When insects undergo complete metamorphosis, this is the form in between the last larval instar and the adult.

❓ What are turf damaging insects?

👉 Turf damaging insects are those that feed on the grass blades, stems, or roots and can harm your grass. These include leafhoppers, chinch bugs, billbugs, grubs, etc. Moles are not insects, but can harm the grass through tunnel digging.

❓ What kind of bugs are in my lawn?

👉 These include leafhoppers, chinch bugs, billbugs, grubs, etc. Moles are not insects, but can harm the grass through tunnel digging. Generally they are not a danger to us, just the grass. However, just because a lawn-damaging insect is found does not necessitate treatment.

❓ What should I do about insects in my lawn?

👉 In most cases, little or nothing needs to be done about nuisance insects unless their presence becomes an annoyance or a danger to us, to our children, or pets. Turf damaging insects are those that feed on the grass blades, stems, or roots and can harm your grass. These include leafhoppers, chinch bugs, billbugs, etc.

❓ What is the best software for the turf industry?

👉 Forecast – Weather for the turf industry – Up-to-date growing degree maps and other information to help you manage disease, irrigation, stress and more. ‘TracTurfgrass’ software – Pesticide record-keeping and reporting for golf, athletic fields, lawn, and sod.


Video Instruction: Lawn Insect Identification