One Bt-based pesticide recommends mixing 1/2 to 4 teaspoons of Bt-based product per gallon of water in a handheld garden sprayer, but carefully read and follow the specific directions on your product's label since instructions vary. They are susceptible to cold and do not survive severe winters, thus limiting their most severe damage to south Texas where winters are mild. The sod webworm caterpillar will eat (chew) various types of grass, especially St. Augustine Grass. Chris Bond has been writing about gardening, sustainable agriculture and local history since 2005. Lawn moth larvae have slender, cream-colored bodies with distinct dark brown or black spots running down their backs. The National Gardening Association Plant Finder: Stenotaphrum Secundatum "Variegatum", University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: St. Augustinegrass-- Stenotaphrum Secundatum. And they are very mobile, flying into your lawn from untreated areas. Fill the can approximately three quarters full with water and see what insects float to the top. This may need to be done in several areas. Spray early in the evening just before the moth larvae start feeding for optimal control results. Featuring medium-green to blue-green, broad blades, St. Augustine forms a dense, low-growing turf that suffers few pest problems. These moths breed in extremely large numbers, laying enormous amounts of eggs in one laying amongst the leaf material of our lawns. The appearance of moths in St. Augustine lawns is indicative of more serious pests such as sod webworms or cutworms. Control of both moth species in St. Augustine grass should be targeted at the larval stage. They're about 1/4 - 3/4 inch long. Cutworms are another variety of caterpillar which are the larvae of different moth species which can affect St. Augustine lawns. They live in the root level of your lawn and munch up the grass leaves. What Are the Treatments for Armyworms on a Lawn? Q. John writes: When you walk across our St. Augustine lawn white moths fly up from among the grass.Are the moths damaging the lawn? “Adult sod webworms are small, white-to-gray moths with a snout-like projection on the front of their heads. Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images, Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images, Clemson Cooperative Extension; St. Augustinegrass; Bob Polomski et al. Many gardeners are seeing moths or what appears to be moths in their lawns. To kill sod webworms without resorting to heavy-duty chemicals, we recommend using a pesticide containing BT (Bacillus … Lawn moth larvae rest on top of the soil during daylight hours and emerge to chew holes in St. Augustine grass blades at night. The moths themselves don't cause a great deal of damage to grass and other plants, but their larvae do. University of Florida IFAS Extension Collier County: Tropical Sod Webworm: Are Bevies of Moths Flying in Your Landscape? Sod webworms are the larvae of lawn moths. Don't store diluted product for more than 12 hours or it loses its effectiveness. Store unused, undiluted product in a dry, cool location. Larvae will curl into a "C" shape when disturbed. Their tunnels are lined with silk similar to a spider's web, which gives the larvae their name. The larvae, or caterpillars, are destructive pests of warm season turf grasses, like St. Augustine, bermuda, and zoysia grasses. They will devour your grass, decimating your yard, unless you treat repeatedly. Recently, you've probably noticed little moths hanging out in your grass. Adult females lay their eggs on the grass blades, with the larvae emerging in about one week to start feeding. The University of California recommends using a pesticide containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a soil-borne bacterium that selectively kills moth larvae without harming beneficial insects, earthworms, pets or people. They do damage mostly in sunny, south-facing lawn areas. The sod webworm (1 inch long) is the larval or caterpillar stage of a small white-brown moth (1/2 to 3/4 inches long) with pale yellow or brown markings on their wings. Sod webworm larvae can be controlled with repeat applications of the beneficial bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis or beneficial nematodes. Using a watering can, evenly sprinkle the solution over 1 square yard of unhealthy lawn area. Chinch bugs are another opponent. ; March 1999, Ohio State University; Sod Webworm Management in Lawns; David J. Shetlar; 1995, University of California; Lawn Moths and Sod Webworms; 2009, North Carolina State University; Cutworms in Turf; Stephen B. Bambara et al. The moth lays its eggs in your St. Augustine grass at night and the eggs hatch out a caterpillar (the damaging life stage). Moths are the adult forms of these serious lawn pests. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. You can sometimes see the little silken webs they spin on the grass blades during nighttime feedings. Once they’re in your yard, chinch bugs stay on the move, eating the base of grass stems and destroying one patch of grass before heading for another spot. Hindwings are white or light in color and plain. Combine 2 to 4 tablespoons of liquid dish soap with 1 gallon of water. Although the moths themselves won't damage the grass blades, their larvae can cause significant damage. Lawn moth larvae rest on top of the soil during daylight hours and emerge to chew holes in St. Augustine grass blades at night. Caterpillars grow to almost 3/4 inch long , appearing translucent green with small dark-colored spots or plates arranged on each body segment and a dark, yellowish-brown head capsule. Adult tropical sod webworm moths are dingy brown with wing spans of about 3/4 inch. University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Lawn Moths and Sod Webworms, University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program: Sod Webworms. The adult moths are similar in size with ¾” (20mm) wingspread, but differ in that the Crambus sp. I hear they eat the roots of St. Augustine grass. Cutworms do their damage by chewing turf blades at their base. The moths do no damage to the turf, but the larvae can devastate St. Augustine lawns. It lays the eggs, and they hatch to become caterpillar (sod webworm). University of Florida IFAS Extension: What Are These Little Brown Moths Buzzing Around My Lawn? Proper identification of the turf pest is important for implementation of control strategies. Reduce your risk of exposure by wearing protective eyewear, long sleeves, long pants, socks with shoes and a face mask. The pests often chew individual blades all the way down to the soil line, and this defoliation can result in irregularly shaped patches of bare soil or brown turf. Sod webworm larvae can be controlled with repeat applications of the beneficial bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis or beneficial nematodes. So far centipede grass and Bermuda grass and zoysia have been less affected. Wings are held flat over the back when at rest, giving the insect a triangular appearance. Maintaining your yard properly can prevent this type of fungus from destroying your lawn. 1 Response. These pests eat grass and dig tunnels in the soil. The adult moths have a habit of folding their wings up closely to their bodies when at rest, earning the group the name “close-winged moths.” If disturbed, the moths fly i… Tropical sod webworms are one of the most destructive pests of St. Augustine grass and carpet grass. A. This larval stage is the most damaging of the tropical sod webworm’s life-cycle. But it's not the moths causing damage; it's their offspring—the caterpillars—damaging the turf. The wings form a triangular shape when resting. Harris County Texas. Bond holds an A.A.S. It may be connected to the moths but may not be. There are several possible reasons why your lawn would be dying. To determine if damage to your St. Augustine lawn grass is indeed sod webworm or cut worm, perform a "float" test. When St. Augustine grass suffers from this type of fungus, the movement of water and nutrients is unable to get to the roots of the grass, making its leaves turn yellow and die. Take an open-bottom cylindrical can such as a coffee can with both ends removed and push down into the soil in a patch of lawn that is on the interface of damaged and healthy lawn. Lawn moth larvae rest on top of the soil during daylight hours and emerge to chew holes in St. Augustine grass blades at night. They're frequently seen fluttering over the turf in the early evening,” he said. Cultural Control Adult sod webworm moths are usually most noticeable during the summer months and the larvae causes damage to grass that is visible by the early part of fall. Adult webworm moths are approximately 3/4 inch in length. We came in with a sod cutter, cut the grass out, and replaced it with Raleigh St. Augustine. The pests often chew individual blades all the way down to the soil line, and this defoliation can result in irregularly shaped patches of bare soil or brown turf. 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