What Do You Spray For Webworms
There are dozens of sprays you can buy on the market that can eliminate your webworm problem.
If you need to resort to chemicals to kill the pests, do so only if you think its worth it.
Some compounds will leave behind residues in your grass for a long time, which can be dangerous if you have pets or kids that like to play in the grass.
However, the majority of them will leave behind poisonous residues that can be harmful to you, your pets, and the environment.
If you have a dog, kids, or just like to spend time on the lawn, these dangerous compounds should be avoided. Look for a natural or organic pesticide with active ingredients that are proven to kill lawn moths.
Treat The Surrounding Area To Prevent Lawn Moths
One of the best ways to prevent a moth problem is to eliminate them while they are in the egg or larvae stage. Not only does this prevent an infestation, but it stops the larvae from destroying your plants and garden.
Many types of moths and larvae such as sod webworms are destructive and destroy an entire lawn in no time at all. Signs of moths in the yard are brown patches of grass that increase in size, or moths flying above the grass during dusk.
Apply a lawn insecticide to the affected areas by following the directions for the chosen brand. Another sign of webworms is large clumps of webbing that cling to tree branches. These masses of webbed material are filled with the larvae of white moths.
Its easy to eliminate these nests by cutting open the webbing and allowing nature to take its course. If you prefer to remove them quickly, cut the infected branch off the tree and submerge it in soapy water before placing it into a plastic bag.
How To Kill Sod Webworms
- Early treatment is key. At the first sign of webworm damage, treat your lawn with Ortho® BugClear Insect Killer for Lawns & Landscapes Concentrate. It can be used in a tank sprayer or connected to your hose with the Ortho® Dial N’ Spray Hose End Sprayer. It will start killing webworms, as well as other listed insects, within minutes.
- Regular maintenance is the best defense. Routinely feeding your lawn provides the nutrients your grass needs to grow strong to better protect itself from insect damage. Your lawn will begin to wilt when water is needed. As much as possible, take advantage of nature’s sprinkler and rely on the rain to water your lawn. If using sprinklers, water lawns deeply and infrequently .
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What Impact Do Sod Webworms Have On Lawns
Youll first notice their presence as small whitish moths that seem to aimlessly zigzag in flight. These moths dont damage your lawn. However, as they fly around, the females drop eggs up to 200 of them!
About a week after hatching, the hungry caterpillars go to town. Most times, you dont know theyre there until you notice turf damage. A severe outbreak of caterpillars, if left unchecked, can kill large portions of your lawn.
How To Get Rid Of Sod Webworms
Most lawn insecticides effectively control sod webworms so theres no need to spend a lot of money. Sprayable insecticides like Orthos BugClear Insect Killer For Lawns and Bonide Pyrethrin Outdoor Insecticide eradicate sod webworms as well as a host of other surface-feeding insects without hurting your wallet.
If you want to use a fertilizer spreader rather than a lawn sprayer, there are some good granular options. The Andersons DuoCide Professional Grade Lawn Insect Control is one of my favorites. As the name implies, its what the pros use. Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer is another good choice for sod webworms and many other surface-feeding insects.
Water your lawn a day or two before applying conventional insecticides. Once the insecticide has been applied, lightly water the product into the ground. This washes the active ingredient off the grass blades and into the thatch layer where the caterpillars live. The best time to treat your lawn is late afternoon or evening, just before the caterpillars come to the surface to feed.
Biological options also work reasonably well for controlling sod webworms. Bacillus thuringiensis is a beneficial bacterium, producing a natural toxin that paralyzes the caterpillars. Biological products take longer to work, but theyre safe for humans and pets and good for the environment.
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Remove Moth Attracting Materials From Around Your Home
Moths are attracted to specific food sources such as the nectar of night-time flowers and the juice of a fruit. Eliminating these sources of food from your property lowers the number of problem-causing moths.
Yard Clean Up
If you grow fruit trees on your property, clean the area around your trees to remove any fallen fruit. The sweet smell of the ripening fruit is a food source that attracts moths. Avoid planting certain flowers that attract moths.
Flowers that bloom in the evenings and have dull or white blooms are deep nectar sources for moths. Flowers such as the moonflower, yucca, and flowering tobacco are all favorites among moths.
Hire A Licensed Exterminator
When you just dont have the knowledge, time, or expertise to fully manage your webworm infestation, consider hiring a professional to do it for you.
Do some research on local pest control companies near you and find one that looks promising. Look for real reviews, a satisfaction guarantee, and alternative green or organic compound solutions.
You dont want to spray your entire lawn with poisonous substances which are no good for your kids or Fido.
Exterminators will use industry-strength compounds to eliminate the sod webworms and keep them away for good.
Sure, itll cost you money. But you need to weigh your time, energy, and cost of doing it yourself vs. hiring a pro. Is it worth it?
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Are Webworms Harmful Do They Bite
Sod webworms dont bite or transmit any known vectors. Theyre harmless to humans, pets, and other wildlife.
However, the same cant be said for your precious grasses!
Theyll gladly eat them up, turn them patchy or yellow, or even make it hard for your grass to grow back evenly.
If you care for your lawn , you need to act quickly to get rid of them.
Webworms are hungry and will cause severe damage during drought conditions because the damage is usually hidden from view.
When the rain comes, youll see the damage to your grass. They eat a variety of grasses including the beloved St. Augustine. And plants like oats, rye, and wheat.
So its possible that they start on your lawn and eventually get to your plants that you may care about more than your lawn.
How To Get Rid Of Lawn Moths In 8 Effective Ways
Summer offers a lot of fun, but it may be a nightmare for your already stressed-out lawn. When twilight falls when youre strolling on your lawn, and you notice moths flitting over your face or others banging against your screen door, its not a good indication for your lawn.
You inquired as to how to get rid of lawn moths. Moths are unappreciative hostesses who keep you from enjoying the magnificent nighttime scenery.
They also feed on the bottom of your dark green grass blades, leaving a ragged brown stain on your tuft, and their grubs, known as sod webworms, will grab your lawn like a fresh salad.
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For Smaller Infestations Use Soap And Water Mixture
As soon as you see brown patches or dead spots on your lawn, mix up a soap and water solution. This will kill the larvae on contact. To make the mixture, add a tablespoon of dish soap to a gallon of water. Once youve mixed it well, pour it into a spray bottle and generously mist the affected areas.
Take note that this method only works for small infestations. If you have a larger problem, its best to use an insecticide.
Description Of The Pest
Adult sod webworms, called lawn moths, are typical snout moths: they have sensory appendages called labial palps that extend in front of the head. The moth holds its wings close to and over its body at rest, giving it a slender appearance. When disturbed, the moth makes a short flight close to the grass. At night, these moths drop their eggs indiscriminately onto turf. The creamy larvae have a distinctive double row of brown or black spots down their backs, located at the base of long bristles. The Lucerne moth larva is somewhat larger than the other sod webworm larvae. During the day larvae reside in silk-lined burrows, writhing when disturbed. At night they emerge to feed.
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What To Look For
Sod Webworm moths have a slender body, a wingspan of up to 25mm and the wings are grey with dark spots and wavy lines on both the forewings and hindwings.
Theyre most active at dusk and fly just above your lawn as they drop eggs in late spring or early summer.
Depending on the temperature, the oval-shaped eggs can hatch in 7-10 days and the larvae then burrow into the thatch and hide under particles or debris, emerging at night to feed.
Sod Webworms feed on a variety of grasses, chewing leaves and stems at the crown and thinning out small areas which can become large irregular brown patches. Sod Webworms dont usually attack grass in heavily shaded areas.
Damage may initially look like fungal disease, but closer inspection will show ragged leaf margins where the Sod Webworm larvae have been chewing.
What Are The Signs Of Webworm Invasion
The first signs of a webworm problem may be small brown spots in your turf, which worsen as the summer progresses. Or it may be that you notice the grey-brown coloured moths flying low over your lawn at dusk. Another common sign is an increased amount of birds feeding on grubs in your lawn.
If you suspect an unwanted invasion, the best time to look for the critters is early morning while the dew is still on the grass: sod webworm leaves a tell-tale silky substance on the grass which is very obvious before the dew evaporates. If your suspicions are confirmed, take a torch and make a thorough investigation of the lawn after dark the caterpillars are active at night and youll likely be able to see them munching away at your grass!
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Lawn Moth Vs Other Moths
Since most people cant tell a lawn moth from any other moth its useful to have some ways to identify them.
- Just look for these key indicators to be sure that its a lawn moth:
- Small brown or white moths that hover around the lawn surface
- A zigzag pattern when they fly
- Usually found in small groups
- The same species are always in the same areas of your lawn
- Wings that fold flat when landed
- Found during the spring and summer
- Two long antennae sticking out from the head
- 1 wingspan that points backward when folded
It may be difficult to tell, but if you see the presence of their larvae at night, you can be sure that its a lawn moth problem. The signs of damage are also a giveaway
How Do I Get Rid Of Moths In My Lawn: Final Thoughts
Getting rid of your moth problem is best done during their early stages when theyre eggs. They start to get destructive once they turn into larvae and start eating your grass. Unfortunately, some lawn owners may not even notice the early signs of an infestation until its too late.
But dont worry, there are still plenty of ways to get rid of them. Be sure to act quickly and use an insecticide with a reliable formulation for the best results. In terms of prevention, ensure you practice proper lawn maintenance and care, so you can avoid having to deal with them in the first place.
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Treatments To Kill Sod Webworms In Your Lawn
Sod webworms are not a problem at our farm generally. These moths are in your flower beds and are hanging out in yards around. Theyre particularly attracted to new, tender, healthy, dark green grass. Guess what? Thats exactly what Houston Grass South delivers.
We come and we put that down in your yard, and these things will move in like its a new, fresh salad bar. They can move in overnight, and if theyre really bad they can wipe out a whole yard in two or three days.
It happens, and in this case youll be able to see that they actually prefer the new, young, tender grass, and in this case too, youll see these things came in, ate all the new, young, tender grass and then left. We only replaced parts of this yard, and you can see the parts that we did not replace are fine. They moved on to something else.
So you can see how that gives us a bad rap. Sometimes people accuse the farm of bringing in sod webworms, when these little moths are all around this area. Theyre not coming from our farm.
These last two summers theyre the worst theyve been in 30 years, because we havent had much of a winter to kill them. They lay over in the thatch layers in the winter. If we dont have much of a severe winter at all, which has been the case the last two summers, they come with a vengeance.
Reduce A Moth Population By Eliminating Caterpillars
Lowering the moth population outside lessens the risk of moths getting in your home and causing destruction to food and clothing. Moths eggs hatch into larvae, or caterpillars, before weaving cocoons and tuning into adult moths. Its easy to eliminate a moth infestation by removing the caterpillars from your yard.
Fill a bucket or large container with hot water and add several squirts of dish soap. Walk the perimeter of your yard and check your gardens and critical areas for caterpillars.
Look in crevices, on stems or leaves, and in decaying material such as old wood. Pluck the caterpillars on the spot and drop them in the soapy water.
If you have a large caterpillar infestation, consider using Bt-k, a naturally occurring soil bacteria that is harmless to humans, pets, and beneficial insects. The caterpillars ingest the bacteria, and this creates a stomach toxin that kills them before they turn into a moth.
Eliminating a moth problem inside the house involves some of the same measures. For a moth infestation in the kitchen, cleaning and wiping down all surfaces, including the interior of the pantry, can help.
Pantry moths and other species of moths are annoying when fluttering around the entryways to your home. These flying insects are also destructive, causing moth damage to outdoor plants and gardens.
Fortunately, its easy to kill a moth species by changing the outdoor lighting, removing certain food items, and using moth traps and repellents.
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Migrating Miller Moths ^
Unlike the local problems common throughout the eastern half of the United States, the western half of the country has migratory miller moths. These moths will fly hundreds of miles in the spring and summer moving from lowlands to mountainous peninsulas.
During these migrations, they will magically show up overnight in the yard and on the home. The exact reason for the migration is unclear but they definitely follow a very distinct path. And if your home is in their travel line, youll experience an invasion of sorts which will last 1-3 months.
Typically this happens in the spring to summer months and when theyre on the move, yards can go from zero to thousands of moths overnight. All the while theyll be marking territories leaving their scented pheromones on good locations and travel paths to insure the success of future generations. This means theyll return year and after year to the same yards and homes as they make their annual trek.
How To Get Rid Of Moths Outside With Citronella
Moths hate the smell of citronella, and there are several different forms of this oil sold in many hardware and home improvement stores. Its easy to use and provides ambiance to any sitting area.
- Citronella tiki torches
Stick tiki torches in the ground around the perimeter of your outdoor seating area. Fill the torch cans with citronella oil and light the torches during the evening hours to repel moths. Place lit citronella candles on patio tables or a picnic table to keep moths at bay with the heated scent.
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What Are The Little Moths All Over My Lawn
Originally Submitted: June 16, 2021
There have been reports of small, light-colored moths showing up by the thousands in peoples lawns. These moths have been identified as sod webworms, which are now emerging throughout South Dakota. Although these mild turf pests are somewhat common during the summer, the number of moth sightings and population densities are typically low. A similar population boom occurred in 2016, which suggests that webworm populations may be cyclic, or that conditions are simply favorable for them once again.
How Can I Control Webworm
Diagnosis made, symptoms confirmed now how to get rid of these nasty little beggars?!
Thankfully, this isnt too hard. And there are several effective methods you can choose from. Firstly, theres the old soap n water trick: mix approximately 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid into about 3 litres of water. Douse the affected areas of your lawn with a generous amount of the mixture and you should see the larvae emerging from their hidey-holes. The soapy water should kill them, but if it doesnt, ensure their demise with your trowel!
If this method isnt successful, there are several different types of pesticides which can be sprayed onto the lawn to kill the larvae. Because they are most active at night, it is best to spray the lawn at sunset to ensure that they get a good dose of the poison as they feed. Follow the manufacturers instructions carefully and repeat as necessary.
For more information on controlling webworm in your lawn, call the team at Greener Lawns on 1800 473 363. We love healthy, pest-free lawns and wed love to share our lawn maintenance tips with you.
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