Florida lawn pests can create disappointment after all your hard work to keep your Florida lawn healthy and green. Even though we have a favorable environment for growing grass, there are several Florida lawn pests that you should be aware of if you want to keep your grass in the best possible condition. So, if you have moved recently to Florida, keep an eye out for the listed lawn pests below.
Florida Lawn Pests
Chinch Bugs
These are insects with black bodies and white, shining wings that fold over their backs. Chinch bugs are active all year round, no matter the weather around. Even though they aren’t dangerous to people, these piercing, sucking insects rob grass of its juice and inject a poison into the soil, killing it. They are more likely to target sunny sections of lawns and take up residence in the mulch layer or on the tops of particular grass plants.
Grubs
Beetle larvae are known as grubs, and they may grow to a length of 1 to 2 inches. They are creamy-white and have six legs. Larvae hatch throughout the spring and summer months, although they are a year-round nuisance to humans. They eat the roots of turf grass, causing harm to the lawn. So, a grub infestation can be identified by the presence of thin, yellow patches, scattered brown patches, or soft spongey sections of grass where the roots have been damaged.
Fall Army Worms
These fall army worms are also known as Moth caterpillars. They are between one and two inches in length, which is the width of a pencil. They range in hue from a pale tan to grayish green, with a shining black or brown head adorned with a distinctive yellow or white inverted “Y” that advertises their front. Their skin is covered with splotches of black and features mole-like markings.
They’re most common from the sixth to the ninth month but can be seen year-round. The larvae of the worms graze on the nearby plants and grass after hatching from eggs laid on the leaf surface by the worms. Shrubs and extensive grass areas can easily be destroyed by these fast-moving Florida lawn pests.
Sod Webworms
Besides moth caterpillars, sod webworms are also a form of a caterpillar. Pinkish white to yellowish brow, they measure about 3/8 of an inch in length. Sod webworms are covered with fine hair and have a dark brown or blackhead. Spring and autumn are the best times to see them. However, they spend their time in shrubs during the day, and at night, they take to the skies, where they deposit their eggs on the ground. So, to identify this pest, look for brown stains and chewed grass blades. These worms can damage large tracts of grass in just a few days.
Fire Ants
Fire ants are a common nuisance and another of the Florida lawn pests to avoid. These are colonies of brown or red bugs, with eighth to a quarter of an inch. The first thing you’ll notice about them is a dome-shaped mound they build on the ground, and you’ll see giant swarms of ants that travel together. The poisonous stings of fire ants may cause severe responses in people and pets, making them a big hazard to your landscape.
Even if you do everything necessary to keep pests out of your yard, you still run the danger of an infestation. Yet, the presence of this lawn pest can cause costly damage. So, seeking professional pest control services may be necessary if dealing with a lawn pest infestation.
