Moths are the parents of a Gainesville lawn pest known as the Tropical Sod Webworm. Do you know how caterpillars go into a cocoon and transform into butterflies? Sod webworms do the same thing, except they become moths.
Webworms eat the tops of St. Augustine and Zoysia grass down to the tougher stolon, which causes a scalped look, typically in wet areas of the lawn. They also leave behind green pellets, which are the remnants of the lawn after the webworm has digested it.
Here are some quick notes about webworm damage in lawns:
- Moths are typically noticed fluttering in the early morning dew of the lawn when you walk through it.
- They are typically swarming when the heavy rains of summer/fall begin, which in Gainesville is anywhere between late June and October.
- The webworms are translucent green, and about 1/2" long. They're easily located in the morning dew, but they stay in the thatch during the heat of the day.
- They're very difficult to treat DIY because most hand or backpack sprayers don't have enough pressure to penetrate the thatch or cocoons.
- Commercial lawn pest technicians (like The Master's Lawn Care) can use more pressure and preventative products that aren't available at home improvement stores.
If you need help controlling Gainesville lawn pests that are killing your yard, please give us a call or text (352) 378-5296.