Every once in while there is a pest that totally dominates
the landscape. This pest could be a fungus, a weed, an insect, or something
else. The pest is usually something we have faced before; however, for whatever
the reason, one year it is more persistent than usual. Last year it was the
nasty rascal the chinch bug. This year it is the sod webworm.
Sod webworms are usually very easy to control if identified
correctly. This year control has not been as easy. Some people confuse the
damage with fungus because they attack in the fall when fungus is usually an
issue. Sod webworms chew on leaf blades, so if you look closely, you will see
bite marks on the grass blades.
If you do not like to bend over, walk around your yard at
dusk. Moths flying out of your grass or even your landscape plantings are signs
that trouble is soon to follow. Sod webworm moths really seem to like Liriope (monkey
grass) and Asiatic Jasmine. I’m seeing more moths than ever. The moths lay the
eggs and about 10 days later the hungry little worm begins to chow on your
grass.
In the recent past (I’m not writing about 20 years ago when
you put down a product and you controlled insects for 6 months), usually one
application of a control product would do the trick. You would apply the
product and the product would kill the worms that were chowing. When new eggs
hatched there was enough residual to kill any new worms.
As hopefully you have not seen, this year the same products
that worked wonderfully in the past with only one application are taking 3 and
4 retreatments with no end in sight! Please be kind to your lawn care professional.
If he or she is from the local area, he or she has never dealt with the amount
pressure we are getting from this pest this year.
This year is the first time I have seen that you treat a
yard and some areas get better, but new areas of damage show up. You treat
again and in some areas you seem to have control; however, more damage shows up
in another area of the yard… And the moths are in huge numbers – still laying
eggs. When treating for sod webworms, always treat the whole yard.
Well, I have to run to Possum’s and get another product!
Darn sod webworms!
Always read, understand and follow product label. The
product label is a Federal Law.
