Are you seeing moths flying up from your lawn when you stroll through in the day time? Are the moths mostly in the sunny areas? If so, it is very likely that you have a sod-webworm infestation in your turf. Lawn moths are the adults and are not the issue – it is their larvae that damage the lawn and are what we need to be concerned with. Like I said, they are mostly found in sunny areas, and start attacking usually in June and go until the first frost.
What’s funny about this is that for a number of years, I’d see sodwebworm infestations in home lawns but rarely saw any major damage from them. I’d tell homeowners just to let them run their course and just keep cutting the lawn tall and irrigating properly. But recently, I have seen some BIG TIME damage caused by these buggars! Their populations are just soaring and I don’t recommend you let them takeover if you get infested. Below is a picture of a lawn I came across recently that had been infested. This damage occurred in just 12 short days.
The damage from the sod webworm could look like a lot of other types of lawn damage. One of the ways to tell if it is indeed sod webworm is by seeing the adult moths fly up. Now, the adults – lawn moths – don’t actually do any damage at all, but their larvae does. If you see moths, then chances are damage will soon follow. If you already have damage AND moths are still flying up, you are in for a second wave of damage. In fact, this year, I am seeing a third wave of damage!
Green Light Organic Lawn & Garden Insect Control Spray With Spinosad - Quart 41140
Retail Price: $19.99
Amazon Price: $24.69
Since we do things organically here, we have to be mindful of what we are chucking on the lawn. The good news is there are organic controls for the sod webworms that do work well. The ones below are very effective, cost effective and easy to apply. They will keep you well within your organic lawn care regimen.
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