Sod webworms are rampant across the Houston area right now and many customers have asked us how to permanently get rid of these pests. Not sure what sod webworms are or what trouble they might cause your lawn?
Sod Webworms Damage
Take a walk across your yard and near your flowerbeds during the day. If you see off-white moths that take flight and then settle back into your shrubs or sheltered areas, it’s probably sod webworm moths. It’s easy to assume that brown grass could be related to high temperatures instead of insects during the summer months.
Sob webworms life cycle: overwinter, pupate in late spring, and then adults emerge. Eggs are laid mid-summer, and two to three generations of sod webworms could be completed in a year. Adult moths don’t directly cause damage to lawns, but their offspring certainly take their toll. Larvae feed primarily at night, chewing off blades of grass. You can imagine the damage your lawn could sustain very quickly if the cycle isn’t broken.
Sod webworms can be particularly difficult to get rid of and may take two or three treatments. Warren’s suggests Cyonara insecticide as an effective control along with these tips:
- Lightly water your lawn first to disturb the larvae
- Spray in the late afternoon or evening when they are more active
- Spray every 10 days to break the egg cycle
- Give your lawn an extra boost by applying Cotton Bur Compost in the damaged areas
- Spray with Medina HastaGro Lawn Fertilizer to repair and restore your lawn
Use BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) if you’re interested in a non-chemical control option, which is a bacterium commonly used as a biological pesticide.
For more helpful tips on sod webworms or to speak with one of Warren’s experts, stop by the Garden Center or give us a call at 281-354-6111.