Sod Webworms and Clinch Bugs. You may not know it, but these pests are currently threatening your yard and garden. Don’t worry, though. The experts at Sterling Pest Control are here to make sure you are up to speed with sod webworm treatment and what you can do to keep your landscape protected. We are an experts roach exterminator Orlando residents can count on.
What Is A Sod Webworm
Thank you, Florida heat. It’s springtime in Florida, which means heat, humidity, and increased susceptibility of lawns and grasses to warm-weather turf pests. Most homeowners are familiar with chinch bugs and the extensive turf damage they can inflict. A lesser-known pest is the tropical sod webworm. Besides chinch bugs, the sod webworm is one of the most troublesome turf pests in the southeast United States.
So what is it? They are basically caterpillars. The tropical sod webworm is a warm season lawn caterpillar found in the southeastern United States and other tropical areas. The larvae, or caterpillars, are destructive pests of warm-season turf grasses, like St. Augustine, bermuda, and zoysia grasses. The first four larval stages only feed on the upper part of the grass blades, so the damage is often overlooked, but mature sod webworms can chew entire sections off the leaf blade, quickly making a lawn look like it was scalped.
Take Advantage of Sod Webworm Treatment
Identifying a sod webworm problem can be difficult because the damage they cause is subtle. However, if left too long without being managed, the caterpillars can eat all the way down to the stolons, and you may be left with brown, dead patches in your lawn. It’s essential to keep an eye on your lawn and pay attention to subtle changes that may occur before the damage becomes advanced.
Excessive fertilizing is one of the main causes of sod webworm outbreaks in Florida lawns. Proper fertilization, irrigation, and mowing can decrease the susceptibility of turf grass to the tropical sod webworm.
If there is a webworm infestation, landscape management companies like Sterling Pest Control will treat the affected areas with applications of above-ground chemical insecticides to combat the larval stages (not the flying moths).
Sod webworms are more manageable than chinch bugs, and grass recovers more quickly from the damage done by these pests than others. While feeding damage often leads to weed growth in the yellowed patches of grass, damaged areas usually recover quickly as long as grass stays watered.
Contact The Best Roach Exterminator Orlando Homeowner’s Love
Stay protected these next humid months from sod webworms. We are the experts to trust when it comes to Florida pest control. At Sterling Pest Control we will make sure your home is safe from unwanted bugs and insects. Sod webworm treatment is our specialty. We take pride in being the best in pest control in Central Florida. Call or visit the best roach exterminator Orlando residents love today for more information. In no time, your home and garden will be protected from unwanted friends.