Aboveground Pests
Chinch bugs Chinch bugs are the premier pest on St. Augustinegrass lawns, and will attack other grasses except those in the coldest climates. Black, winged, and 1/5-inch long, they live and… Read more »
Underground Pests
White grubs These root-eating larvae of the scarab beetle family include Japanese beetles, June bugs, rose chafers, and the black turfgrass ataenius. Grub size and characteristics vary,… Read more »
Visible Clues to Insects
Knowing your local pests and their life cycles is the key to determining whether lawn damage is due to insects. The rest is a matter of keeping your eyes open. Most insects are large enough to b… Read more »
Watch What You Step On
It pays to know what insects look like throughout their life cycle, because they change form as they grow in a process called metamorphosis. Born with rigid or semi-rigid outer skins, insect… Read more »
Testing for Insects
In addition to the time-honored method of parting the grass and looking around, the following techniques will expose damaging insects in your lawn. Soap Drench: Use to flush out sod webworms… Read more »
Mechanical Bug Removal
When pests are visible and large enough, removing them via the “pick and squash” method is an option for the non-squeamish. Try the following on insects you cannot see. For chinch bugs, prepa… Read more »
Insecticidal Soaps
Made from the potassium salts of fatty acids, insecticidal soaps cause desiccation and death on direct contact with susceptible insects. The acids disrupt the structure and permeability… Read more »
Earthworms – More Than Bait
Abundant in moist, heavy soils, earthworms are a natural component of healthy lawns. Their diet of dirt, organic matter, and excrete plant litter in the form of a rich digestive by-product c… Read more »
