The Byer Family Resource - Lawn Care

COMMON TURF DAMAGING INSECTS

Although you may find many insects in your lawn, most of them are non-damaging. However, the insects that do damage turf, make up the difference.

The following are the most common turf damaging insects in our region (Southern Ontario).

Chinch Bugs

White Grubs

Sod Webworm

Turfgrass Scale

CHINCH BUGS

Description - The Chinch Bugs are a major lawn pest in this area during the hot summer

months. When the temperature rises above 70F for a few hours, they come out of hiding

and take flight. Chinch Bugs mate repeatedly, about 200 eggs are laid over a

3 or 4 week period. The eggs hatch out into small, active reddish bugs, becoming

darker as they grow older. They generally reach maturity in about 4 to 6 weeks.

Adult Chinch Bugs, which grow to about 1/5" in length, have a characteristic white band

across the abdomen which becomes covered by their wing buds as they become larger.

Damage - Chinch bugs have piercing mouthparts which allows them to suck the sap from the

stem and crowns of turf grasses. The dead areas become brown, irregular sunken patches,

spreading into larger dead areas as the damage increases. Chinch bugs are usually found

just inside the perimeter of the dead areas as they are heading to the green, healthy grass.

All common species of turf grasses appear to be susceptible to Chinch bug damage.

Damage usually appears anywhere from late June to mid July, depending on when the

really hot weather starts, and can continue all the way through August.

Control - Chinch bugs tend to avoid light by crawling under thatch, so eliminating excess

thatch is one way to help control them. They also love dry conditions, so watering the lawn

will help to control the numbers. But, the best way to eliminate Chinch bugs

is by applying an Insecticide that is formulated for them. The most common Insecticide

in use is Diazinon, but some of the formulations can only be purchased and applied

by Licensed Pesticide Applicators.

WHITE GRUBS

Description - Grubs that are found in this area are the larva of one of three beetles,

the June beetle, the Japanese beetle and the European chafer. The larva of the June beetle,

or white grub, is a C-shaped grub with a brown head and three pairs of long legs.

It requires 3 years to develop into an adult. The Japanese beetle larva is similar

to that of the June beetle but only about half as big when mature and only has a life

cycle of 1 year. The European chafer larva is also similar to the white grub of the

June beetle but is somewhat smaller and also only has a 1 year life cycle.

Damage - The presence of grubs is suspected when irregular patches of lawn gradually

turn brown in summer and the patches can be lifted like a carpet. Grubs usually

begin feeding at the roots of grass in May, in the spring, and again in September,

in the fall, but have been reported as early as the beginning of April and as late

as the end of October. The extent of the damage will depend on the condition

of the lawn and soil.

Control - If a shallow hole is dug and reveals grubs, or if animals, such a skunks,

begin digging in the lawn, it is time to apply insecticide and then water it in very

well to reach them. In the mean time, to help control these pests, avoid excess thatch so

that the insecticide has a better chance of reaching them and maintain the height of the

grass higher to encourage deeper root growth. If grubs are found during warm,

dry periods of the growing season, water and fertilize to help maintain a stronger

lawn and compensate for the root feeding damage of the grubs.

SOD WEBWORM

Description - Also called the Lawn Moth. Sod Webworms are night feeders.

During the daytime, they hide and can be found near the base of the grass.

Damage - Young worms skeletize grass blades; older worms cut them off completely.

A sympton of sod webworm infestation is irregular brown patches of turf.

As the damage increases, the brown areas increase. The presence of small, white moths

darting out of the grass indicates an infestation. Damage usually occurs within

2 weeks of seeing these moths.

Control - Avoid excess thatch and spray insecticide as soon a damage is first noticed.

TURFGRASS SCALE
(Sorry, no picture available)

Description - Turfgrass scale is a small, 3-4 mm long, yellow-brown insect which is found,

primarily, in lawns. These insects feed at the base of the grass plant by sucking

the plant sap, but they do not do serious damage to lawns. The young, which hatch in

late June or early July, are called crawlers and are very tiny and red and they

disperse everywhere, leaving red stains when crushed.

Damage - Grass may green-up slower in spring, but that is about the extent of damage

these insects cause.

Control - No control is necessary as they cause only a minimal amount of damage,

but a normal spray for chinch bugs will also control the crawlers.

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Common Turf Diseases

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