Common Lawn Insects and Pests

Uncover methods to identify common pests and insects that may threaten your lawn as well as tips to help you deal with an infestation.

Insects and other pests will always be a potential problem for any lawn. Many bugs won't do any considerable damage and may even be beneficial.

It is fairly common, however, for insects or other pests to actually damage your lawn. This section will help you in dealing with these cases.

The first task to perform when you believe an insect has infested your lawn is to identify the culprit. You can do this by examining the damage caused or, if you can locate a potential suspect pest, by identifying the creature itself.

When trying to deal with an infestation, it is important to keep in mind that you will never be able to eliminate a pest completely and permanently. Trying to control the population and damage caused should be your goal.

 

Lawn Insects and Pests

Mole Crickets
These insects are plump, winged, anywhere from 1 to 1 1/4 inches long, and range in color from light to dark brown. Since they spend most of their lives underground, you will most likely have to use a detergent flush to identify them.

Sod Webworms
These larva of the lawn moth appear as pinkish-white to yellowish-brown worms about 3/4 an inch in length. Since they only surface in the early evening to feed, if you wish to identify them during the day, you'll need to use a soap disclosing drench.

White Grubs
Look for white grubs under the ground of affected areas. They can be easily identified by their whitish color with dark areas near their rear and C-shaped bodies with a total of six legs.