Georgia Armyworms

The armyworms are coming. Armyworms, which are actually the caterpillar form of a small gray moth, arrive in Georgia every year. But this year, they are not only early, but they're particularly abundant.

David Stephenson found the caterpillars covering the property of his Sullivan Road home. "The grass was completely covered ... it was unbelievable," he said.

The next morning, there were no more armyworms. And there was no more lush green Bermuda grass lawn. The first sign that armyworms are near may be clusters of birds forming on your lawn. Although birds eat armyworms, they are no match for hundreds of them on one lawn.

Sevin dust and liquid (carbaryl) can be quite effective in killing the caterpillars, on both lawns and pastures.

On lawns, you can also use various pyrethroids, such as bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, and permethrin.

If you suspect your turf is being infiltrated but you can't find the caterpillars, you can try soaking the lawn with soapy water to bring them to the surface.