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Five of the more common insect
problems in our area are:
CHINCH BUGS
Chinch bugs
are tiny insects that feed on the plant juices - primarily St. Augustine, and
dry the grass out; Chinch bug damage first appears as a slight yellowing of the
grass like it is dry.
To control them, water the grass
thoroughly in the late evening, then spray the entire lawn area with Dursban or
Diazinon at the recommended rate on the container. A repeat treatment may be
needed 10-14 days later to kill any newly hatched bugs.
A preventative treatment is best
applied in May and again in August.
GRUB
WORMS
Grub Worms are white worms that eat
the roots of the grass. Grub Worms damage is similar in appearance to Chinch
Bug damage except areas of the brown grass will not have any roots; you will be
able to lift the grass from the ground.
To control them, treat with Dursban
granules, and water it in to kill the Grub Worms while they are close to the
surface of the soil and feeding on the roots of the sod.
A preventative treatment is best
applied twice per year.
ARMY
WORMS
Army worms appear in late spring to
early summer and lay hundreds of eggs at a time on the grass. You may see their
larvae hanging from the grass, or you may see small patches of browned turf
with grass blades eaten off in circular patches. They are 3/4 inch to 2 inches,
and will have dark brown, orange, or yellow stripes down their
backs.
If you have more than five larvae per
square yard you need to treat your affected areas with Diazinon, Malathion,
Dursban, .
SOD
WEBWORMS
Sod Webworms are slender,
grayish, black-spotted caterpillars, approximately 3/4 inch log which begin
feeding in the spring, and then mature into moths in the early summer. Hot, dry
grass blades chewed off just above the thatch line usually indicate that
webworms exist
Treat upon inspection a year with
Diazinon, Malathion, Dursban; repeat only if it reappears.
FIRE
ANTS
If you don't know what fire ants are,
you probably are new to Texas. These reddish, ravenous creatures can damage a
lawn with their huge mounds; you may notice them after a strong
rain.
If you see even one mound treat
immediately with Amdro, Orthene, or Dursban. If experience a pattern of
activity on your lawn, treat the whole area several times within a two week
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