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On an annual basis, the most likely insect pests to cause appreciable damage to cool-season turfgrasses are grubworms, chinch bugs and caterpillars such as armyworms, cutworms and webworms. Proper identification of pests and an understanding of where the pest is feeding (above ground or below ground) is necessary to maximize control. If you suspect an insect is feeding on your turf, a soap flush is an excellent way to sample above ground pests. Simply remove both ends of a large can of six or more inches in diameter, and drive the cylinder into the soil at least an inch deep. Fill the can half way with a soapy water solution (one-half ounce of liquid dish detergent per gallon of water works well) and watch for the pests to float to the surface. The most significant insect pest to attack turfgrass is most often the grubworm or white grub. When disturbed in the soil the grub will curl into a ?EUR??,,????'??C?EUR??,,????'?? shape and lay motionless for a brief period. White grubs are the larval stages of several different scarab beetles, and they come in many different sizes ranging from less than one-quarter inch in length for grubs of the Black Turfgrass Ataenius to over one inch in length for the grubs of the Green June beetle. Grubs feed on turfgrass roots with chewing mouthparts. Because of the damage to the roots, the most noticeable symptom is wilting during dry periods. Overwintering grubs burrow several inches into the soil to survive the cold and then begin to migrate to the surface as the soil temperatures warm in the spring, all the time feeding on plant roots. By late spring they will reach their maximum size as worms before they go through their final metamorphosis from grub to beetle. Due to their size, chemical control is very difficult at this time. The optimum time to treat for grubs is in the late summer or early fall after the next generation?EUR??,,????'???s eggs have hatched and the immature grubs are very small and near the soil surface. Insecticides must be watered into the soil according to label directions in order to be effective. As winged adult beetles emerge, most are only interested in mating in order to lay eggs for the next generation. However, the Japanese beetle is a serious adult pest, feeding on many trees, shrubs, ornamentals and vegetables around the landscape. The adults are often treated with insecticides for the damage they cause on these plants, but control of the adults is still fairly inconsequential as regards to controlling grubs that will attack turfgrass root systems. Spring is not the best time to treat grubs because their large size makes them difficult to control. Any insecticide application should be carefully considered before treatment because of the potential for killing non-target, beneficial insects. In particular, it is not always necessary to treat for grubs because if only a few are present, their damage to turf is negligible. Scout the turf using a shovel to lift the sod in a one square foot area if you suspect grubs might be causing damage. Six to 10 grubs per square foot justify treatment for most grubs. Don?EUR??,,????'???t be overly alarmed that you have a ?EUR??,,????'??grub problem?EUR??,,????'?? just because you see a few grubs when you are digging in your lawn and garden in the spring. This does not mean that you should apply chemicals for control. Grub damage will be associated with moisture stressed (i.e. wilted) turf that simply does not respond quickly to irrigation or rainfall events because its root system has been attacked. Another likely sign that you might have a grub problem is if you observe lawn damage by burrowing animals (especially skunks) that feed on grubs. As mentioned above, be sure to scout the soil to identify the problem before you make a broad-spectrum chemical application.
On an annual basis, the most likely insect pests to cause appreciable damage to cool-season turfgrasses are grubworms, chinch bugs and caterpillars such as armyworms, cutworms and webworms. Proper identification of pests and an understanding of where the pest is feeding (above ground or below ground) is necessary to maximize control. If you suspect an insect is feeding on your turf, a soap flush is an excellent way to sample above ground pests. Simply remove both ends of a large can of six or more inches in diameter, and drive the cylinder into the soil at least an inch deep. Fill the can half way with a soapy water solution (one-half ounce of liquid dish detergent per gallon of water works well) and watch for the pests to float to the surface.
The most significant insect pest to attack turfgrass is most often the grubworm or white grub. When disturbed in the soil the grub will curl into a ?EUR??,,????'??C?EUR??,,????'?? shape and lay motionless for a brief period. White grubs are the larval stages of several different scarab beetles, and they come in many different sizes ranging from less than one-quarter inch in length for grubs of the Black Turfgrass Ataenius to over one inch in length for the grubs of the Green June beetle.
Grubs feed on turfgrass roots with chewing mouthparts. Because of the damage to the roots, the most noticeable symptom is wilting during dry periods. Overwintering grubs burrow several inches into the soil to survive the cold and then begin to migrate to the surface as the soil temperatures warm in the spring, all the time feeding on plant roots.
By late spring they will reach their maximum size as worms before they go through their final metamorphosis from grub to beetle. Due to their size, chemical control is very difficult at this time. The optimum time to treat for grubs is in the late summer or early fall after the next generation?EUR??,,????'???s eggs have hatched and the immature grubs are very small and near the soil surface. Insecticides must be watered into the soil according to label directions in order to be effective.
As winged adult beetles emerge, most are only interested in mating in order to lay eggs for the next generation. However, the Japanese beetle is a serious adult pest, feeding on many trees, shrubs, ornamentals and vegetables around the landscape. The adults are often treated with insecticides for the damage they cause on these plants, but control of the adults is still fairly inconsequential as regards to controlling grubs that will attack turfgrass root systems.
Spring is not the best time to treat grubs because their large size makes them difficult to control.
Any insecticide application should be carefully considered before treatment because of the potential for killing non-target, beneficial insects. In particular, it is not always necessary to treat for grubs because if only a few are present, their damage to turf is negligible. Scout the turf using a shovel to lift the sod in a one square foot area if you suspect grubs might be causing damage. Six to 10 grubs per square foot justify treatment for most grubs. Don?EUR??,,????'???t be overly alarmed that you have a ?EUR??,,????'??grub problem?EUR??,,????'?? just because you see a few grubs when you are digging in your lawn and garden in the spring. This does not mean that you should apply chemicals for control. Grub damage will be associated with moisture stressed (i.e. wilted) turf that simply does not respond quickly to irrigation or rainfall events because its root system has been attacked. Another likely sign that you might have a grub problem is if you observe lawn damage by burrowing animals (especially skunks) that feed on grubs. As mentioned above, be sure to scout the soil to identify the problem before you make a broad-spectrum chemical application.
Chinch bugs feed on turfgrass above ground with their piercing, sucking mouthparts. They are gold and black in color and are typically one-quarter inch long. Both immature and adult chinch bugs feed on grasses, usually feeding on the stems under the protection of the leaf sheaths. This can make them difficult to see, so soap flushes as previously described can be beneficial. There can be multiple generations of chinch bugs over the summer and damage most likely will occur in full-sun areas. The turf will take on a mottled yellow cast that can be confused with a disease (the loss of color is due to the injection of a toxin by the insect into the stem). Since chinch bugs feed above-ground, foliar applications of insecticides are recommended and irrigation or rainfall after the application is typically not recommended.
The most common caterpillars to attack turf are sod webworms, fall armyworms, and cutworms. These pests feed above ground on leaves and stems with their chewing mouthparts. Most appear in mid- to late summer and while their damage can be significant (particularly in dry periods), chemical treatment is often not necessary. The caterpillars will eventually pupate and transform into a moth as an adult. The fall armyworm can be identified by an inverted ?EUR??,,????'??Y?EUR??,,????'?? on its head and can be seen feeding on foliage at any time of day, typically notching the leaf as it feeds. The cutworm lives in a hole in the ground but emerges from the hole to clip the foliage off at the soil surface and returns to its hole. Similarly, the sod webworm resides in a hole in the ground and clips the turfgrass stem off at the soil surface. An important identification feature is the silken web that it spins to camouflage its hole. The web can be confused with the fungus that causes dollar spot or that of a spider, so check for leaf lesions or a hole in the ground to properly identify the pest before making any attempt at control. Since all of the caterpillars discussed here feed above ground, surface applications of insecticides are recommended. Consider the Effects The non-target effects of any insecticide should be carefully considered before treatment because of the possibility that beneficial insects might also be controlled. Fortunately, many of the newest generation insecticides have greatly improved in their specific target pest and their safety in the environment. Apply insecticides only when damage (or potential damage) warrants treatment. There are numerous biological control alternatives that have demonstrated significant activity on these pests also. The products that have shown the most activity are certain entomopathogenic nematodes, a bacterium called Baccillus thuriengensis, and a fungus called Beauvaria bassiana. These biological-control products require careful selection (particularly regarding shelf life and the target pest) and application in order to be effective. They typically do not provide pest control as complete as standard insecticides, but they are specific to target pests, do not harm beneficial insects, and are safe to handle and for the environment. Single applications of biologicals are rarely successful in significant control. You must make a commitment to make regular applications of these products in order to replenish their populations in the environment. Virginia Cooperative Extension www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/turf/430-532/430-532.html
The most common caterpillars to attack turf are sod webworms, fall armyworms, and cutworms. These pests feed above ground on leaves and stems with their chewing mouthparts. Most appear in mid- to late summer and while their damage can be significant (particularly in dry periods), chemical treatment is often not necessary. The caterpillars will eventually pupate and transform into a moth as an adult. The fall armyworm can be identified by an inverted ?EUR??,,????'??Y?EUR??,,????'?? on its head and can be seen feeding on foliage at any time of day, typically notching the leaf as it feeds. The cutworm lives in a hole in the ground but emerges from the hole to clip the foliage off at the soil surface and returns to its hole. Similarly, the sod webworm resides in a hole in the ground and clips the turfgrass stem off at the soil surface. An important identification feature is the silken web that it spins to camouflage its hole. The web can be confused with the fungus that causes dollar spot or that of a spider, so check for leaf lesions or a hole in the ground to properly identify the pest before making any attempt at control. Since all of the caterpillars discussed here feed above ground, surface applications of insecticides are recommended.
The non-target effects of any insecticide should be carefully considered before treatment because of the possibility that beneficial insects might also be controlled. Fortunately, many of the newest generation insecticides have greatly improved in their specific target pest and their safety in the environment. Apply insecticides only when damage (or potential damage) warrants treatment.
There are numerous biological control alternatives that have demonstrated significant activity on these pests also. The products that have shown the most activity are certain entomopathogenic nematodes, a bacterium called Baccillus thuriengensis, and a fungus called Beauvaria bassiana. These biological-control products require careful selection (particularly regarding shelf life and the target pest) and application in order to be effective. They typically do not provide pest control as complete as standard insecticides, but they are specific to target pests, do not harm beneficial insects, and are safe to handle and for the environment. Single applications of biologicals are rarely successful in significant control. You must make a commitment to make regular applications of these products in order to replenish their populations in the environment.
Virginia Cooperative Extension www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/turf/430-532/430-532.html
Dursban: Commonly used on: chinch bugs, cutworms, flea beetles, sod webworms, white grubs, armyworms, caterpillars, ticks, fire ants, fleas, wasps, mosquitoes, and ants. Diazinon: Commonly used on: billbugs, chinch bugs, cutworms, flea beetles, sod webworms, and white grubs & japanese beetles. Sevin: Commonly used on: billbugs, white grubs & Japanese beetles, caterpillars, ants, fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks. Orthene: Commonly used on: cutworms. Biological Insecticides Endophytes: Endophytes act as a fungus that grows inside of grass stems that when eaten, is toxic to many insects and will ultimately kill them off. The advantage here is that while they are toxic to some insects, they are of no harm to humans. Commonly used on: bill bugs, chinch bugs, and sod Webworms. BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis): Bacillus Thuringiensis, commonly referred to as ?EUR??,,????'??BT?EUR??,,????'??, is a bacterium that, when ingested, will destroy insects by eating at the inner lining of their guts. Once applied (usually in the early evening), it tends to have a limited duration of only a few days. Commonly used on: sod webworms, army worms, cutworms, and moth larvae. Another form commonly referred to as milky spore (Bacillus Popilliae) is used to control white grubs (Japanese beetles). Botanical Insecticides Pyrethrin: Pyrethrin is derived from pyrethin flowers and is a medium to highly toxic insecticide that will kill many different types (a broad-spectrum insecticide) of insects at once. It is commonly used to spot-treat areas of a lawn. Try to avoid run-off into areas that contain fish, for it can harm and/or even kill them. Commonly used on: white grubs, army worms, beetles, webworms, green bugs, and caterpillars. Neem: Neem is an oil extract from a neem tree. Neem is relatively low-toxic for animals and can help treat both infested areas, and help prevent other insects (white grubs ?EUR??,,????'??? Japanese beetles) from visiting and making your lawn home. Commonly used on: green bugs, white grubs (Japanese beetles), and caterpillars. Sabadilla: Sabadilla is derived from sabadilla plant seeds and is known for being a low-toxic bontanical insecticide. Commonly used on: chinch bugs, webworms, armyworms, green bugs, and grasshoppers. Source: www.allaboutlawns.com
Dursban: Commonly used on: chinch bugs, cutworms, flea beetles, sod webworms, white grubs, armyworms, caterpillars, ticks, fire ants, fleas, wasps, mosquitoes, and ants.
Diazinon: Commonly used on: billbugs, chinch bugs, cutworms, flea beetles, sod webworms, and white grubs & japanese beetles.
Sevin: Commonly used on: billbugs, white grubs & Japanese beetles, caterpillars, ants, fleas, mosquitoes, and ticks.
Orthene: Commonly used on: cutworms.
Endophytes: Endophytes act as a fungus that grows inside of grass stems that when eaten, is toxic to many insects and will ultimately kill them off. The advantage here is that while they are toxic to some insects, they are of no harm to humans. Commonly used on: bill bugs, chinch bugs, and sod Webworms.
BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis): Bacillus Thuringiensis, commonly referred to as ?EUR??,,????'??BT?EUR??,,????'??, is a bacterium that, when ingested, will destroy insects by eating at the inner lining of their guts. Once applied (usually in the early evening), it tends to have a limited duration of only a few days. Commonly used on: sod webworms, army worms, cutworms, and moth larvae. Another form commonly referred to as milky spore (Bacillus Popilliae) is used to control white grubs (Japanese beetles).
Pyrethrin: Pyrethrin is derived from pyrethin flowers and is a medium to highly toxic insecticide that will kill many different types (a broad-spectrum insecticide) of insects at once. It is commonly used to spot-treat areas of a lawn. Try to avoid run-off into areas that contain fish, for it can harm and/or even kill them. Commonly used on: white grubs, army worms, beetles, webworms, green bugs, and caterpillars.
Neem: Neem is an oil extract from a neem tree. Neem is relatively low-toxic for animals and can help treat both infested areas, and help prevent other insects (white grubs ?EUR??,,????'??? Japanese beetles) from visiting and making your lawn home. Commonly used on: green bugs, white grubs (Japanese beetles), and caterpillars.
Sabadilla: Sabadilla is derived from sabadilla plant seeds and is known for being a low-toxic bontanical insecticide. Commonly used on: chinch bugs, webworms, armyworms, green bugs, and grasshoppers.
Source: www.allaboutlawns.com
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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