LAWN INSECTS BUG ME Part 2 Pests That Feed on Leaves and Stems or suck juice

Pests That Feed on Leaves and Stems

Sod Webworms

Sod webworms are about 3/4 inch long and light brown. Their bodies are covered with fine hairs. Sod  webworms are the larvae of lawn moths. The adults are small, whitish or gray moths (or millers). They fold their wings closely about their bodies when at rest. They hide in the shrubbery or other sheltered spots during the day. In the early evening, they fly over the grass and the females scatter eggs over the lawns. The worms are active only at night. They live in protective silken webs or nets that they form about their bodies. As soon as they are hatched, they start feeding on the grass leaves. When they grow larger, they build burrows or tunnels close to the surface of the soil; they reinforce the tunnels with bits of dirt and pieces of grass, then line them with silk and live in them. They cut off blades of grass and eat them. Some species feed on the grass crowns at ground level and on the roots. As partly grown larvae, they overwinter in their silken webs.

Sod webworms prefer new lawns. They attack bentgrass, bluegrass, fescue and other grass. Irregular brown spots are the first signs of damage. If the infestation is heavy, large areas of grass may be damaged severely or destroyed in only a few days. Several species infest lawns. The dirty white sod webworm larvae live in  silk-lined tubes about 3/8 inch in diameter that extend 2 to 3 inches into the soil. You can find the worm by pouring a soap solution of two teaspoons of liquid dishwashing detergent in a gallon of water over a 4 foot-square area. If there are four to six or more of them,  apply an insecticide.
 
Armyworms

Armyworms are the larvae of moths. They are 1-1/2 inches long; they are greenish and have blackish stripes along each side and down the center of the back. The adults are brownish gray. Their wings measure about

1-1/2 inches across when expanded. The armyworm and the fall armyworm are common species. When they are numerous, they may devour the grass down to the ground. Their feeding causes circular bare areas in lawns.


 
Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers do not feed on the grasses of a well-kept lawn except when they are very numerous and forage is scarce. They usually migrate to lawns from croplands or wastelands. Control measures in lawns are seldom necessary.

Frit Fly

This is insect is present in a number of states across the

country. It occasionally attacks lawns. The adult fly is black and

about 1/16 inch long. The female lays eggs on the grass and the

hatching maggots bore into the stems.


 
Pests That Suck Plant Juice

Chinch Bugs

Most chinch bug damage is caused by the young bugs, or

nymphs. Yellowish spots appear in the infested lawn; they turn

rapidly into brown, dead areas.

Nymphs hatch from eggs laid by the female adults. At first a nymph is about half the size of a pinhead. It is bright red and has a white band across the back. As it grows, it sheds its skin four times. The full-grown nymph is black and has a white spot on the back between the wing pads. The adults are about 1/6 inch long.

The species Blissus leucopterus hirtus, the hairy chinch bug, infests lawns in the eastern part of the United States. The adults overwinter in thatch or leaf litter and lay eggs in the leaf sheaths or on the roots in the early spring. The eggs hatch in the spring and nymphs infest lawns until late fall.

False Chinch Bug

The false chinch bug is frequently mistaken for a chinch bug. It feeds on grasses in the same way as the chinch bug, but rarely is a lawn pest. The nymphs are greenish-gray; the adults are gray. 
Leafhoppers

Leafhoppers are tiny triangular or wedge-shaped insects that fly or hop short distances. They are less than 1/5  inch long and are green, yellow or brownish gray. Many species of leafhoppers infest lawns. They suck the sap from the leaves and stems of the grass. New lawns may be damaged so extensively that reseeding is necessary. Damage to established lawns is evident in whitened patches. It is often mistaken for damage due to dry weather or disease. 
Mites

Several species of mites attack grasses. They suck the sap and cause the leaves to be blotched and stippled. Severe infestations can kill the plants. The Banks grass mite occurs throughout most of the United States and occasionally attacks lawns. It is not ordinarily a pest in well-managed lawns. Clover mites feed on clover and other lawn plants. They are very tiny and brown. Although they feed only on plants, they are a nuisance when they enter homes. This usually occurs in spring and fall.

Spittlebugs

Spittlebugs seldom damage well-managed lawns. The nymphs live inside masses of spittle and suck the juices from the plants. The adults resemble leafhoppers in appearance and habits, but they are more robust. Two species are sometimes found in lawns. The meadow spittlebug is found in Tennessee. The nymphs are yellowish green. The adults are about 1/4 inch long, are gray or brown and have dark-brown markings. They usually feed on clover or weeds. The two-lined spittlebug occasionally infests lawns in Tennessee. The nymph is ivory and its head and thorax are brownish. The adult is about 3/8 inch long, is dark brown or black and has two orange stripes on its wings. These insects feed on bermudagrass, St. Augustinegrass, centipedegrass and several other plants. Thatch control is important in preventing and controlling spittle bugs in lawns. Proper dethatching and fertilization practices can disrupt the humid conditions essential for spittlebug development. Chemical control measures in lawns are seldom necessary.

Pests That Inhabit but Do Not Damage Lawns

Earwigs

Earwigs are beetle-like insects. They are about 3/4 inch long and are reddish-brown. The insect has a  prominent pair of forcep-like cerci at the rear of the body. The cerci of the male are curved. Earwigs hide during the day and forage at night. These insects are found occasionally in lawns. Sometimes they breed in enormous numbers in piles of lawn clippings. They feed on all kinds of food.

Ticks

Several kinds of ticks infest lawns. They drop on the grass from dogs and rodents. Most of them attack people. Pain may result from their bites. Some ticks transmit diseases, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis, Lyme Disease and tularemia.

Chiggers

Chiggers, or "red bugs," invade lawns from surrounding grassy or woody areas. These mites are annoying to people. They attach themselves temporarily to the skin and release a poison that causes severe irritation and intense itching. They are very tiny and are seldom seen. 
Thrips

Thrips are found in lawns and sometimes in homes. They come from nearby grass or flowers. These tiny black or brown insects may inflict painful bites on people working about the lawn. Control measures in lawns are seldom practical.

Slugs and Snails

Slugs and snails may often move about on the lawn and may injure adjacent plants. They are night feeders and leave mucous trails on plants and sidewalks, but the will damage Yostas.

Millipedes and Centipedes

Millipedes (thousand-legged worms) and centipedes (hundred- legged worms) are dark brown and have many segments. Most of them coil up when disturbed. Millipedes and centipedes do not usually damage lawns.  Occasionally, millipedes congregate in yards after heavy rains. Their food is chiefly decaying vegetable matter.

Some of the larger centipedes may bite people. Most species are not dangerous. Control of centipedes in lawns is seldom necessary.

Sowbugs and Pillbugs

Sowbugs and pillbugs are light gray to slate-colored; they are1/2 inch long; they have segmented bodies and seven pairs of legs. When disturbed, pillbugs roll up into tiny balls.Sowbugs and pillbugs are usually found on damp ground under stones, boards, dead leaves or in damp basements. They feed on organic matter in the soil and sometimes on grass and other plants. Control measures in lawns are seldom necessary; if they

should be needed, apply one of the insecticides recommended for control of grubs.

Spiders and Scorpions

Spiders are found about the lawn, on flowers, plants and shrubbery. Most spiders are harmless to people and are even beneficial because they capture and devour large numbers of harmful insects. They do not damage the grass or other vegetation.Two poisonous spiders  are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider. Consult a physician at once if bitten by either of these spiders.

Fleas

Fleas occasionally spread to lawns from infested dogs, cats or nearby animal quarters. They may attack people or pets.

Control

The user is cautioned to read and follow all directions and precautions given on the label of the pesticide formulation that will be used. Insecticides are sold under various trade names by garden supply houses, and hardware, seed and drug stores. Granules are ready-made formulations that are used dry. Apply them with lawn fertilizer spreader. Wettable powders and other formulations are used in sprays. Mix the purchased product with water and apply with a garden type compressed-air sprayer or a knapsack sprayer. The quantity

of water to use depends on the type of sprayer you have. If a wettable powder is used, agitation of the mixture is necessary. A quart jar attachment for a garden hose will provide good distribution of an insecticide on a lawn. Use an attachment that delivers a coarse spray and large volume of water. Usually a quart jar full of an insecticide mixture will cover about 500 square feet of lawn. Baits are usually purchased ready mixed. Control of soil insects is sometimes difficult. Therefore, it is important to apply the pesticide at the time of the year when the insect is most susceptible to control. This information will be on the pesticide label. To control underground lawn pests, apply an insecticide and, immediately afterward, water the lawn according to label.

To control above ground lawn pests, apply an insecticide to the grass. Follow label directions on whether to irrigate or not after application.  
Use of Pesticides

Pesticide use is governed by a federal law which is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This law requires manufacturers to register pesticides and makes it illegal for people to use them except in accordance with the instructions on the label. You may, if you wish, use less of any pesticide than the

maximum amount the instructions permit. However, always remember: (1) Be sure the pesticide comes in contact ONLY with plants or areas you intend to spray, and (2) be sure to spray the pesticides uniformly.