INSECT ID · CHEWING PEST
Tropical sod webworms
Also called Sod webworms, webworms
Night-feeding caterpillars that chew grass blades. They make the lawn look ragged and thin, mostly in the heat of summer.
How to spot it
- Grass looks shorter or thinner in patches
- Blades look notched or ragged
- Caterpillars are translucent green with small dark spots, up to about 3/4 inch
- Fine silk tunnels low in the grass
- Dingy brown moths, about 3/4 inch across, that hold their wings in a triangle at rest
Why it shows up
The caterpillars feed at night and hide in the grass by day. They do the most damage in mid to late summer when the lawn is stressed by heat and drought. There can be several generations in a year. They mostly attack St. Augustine.
How we treat it
Summer protection against webworms is part of our lawn program. We watch for them in hot weather and treat when we find them. We also feed your lawn on a schedule so the turf stays thick.
What you can do
- Pour soapy water (1 tablespoon dish soap per gallon) on a patch and watch for caterpillars climbing the blades.
- Water deep during dry stretches so the lawn is not stressed.
- Call early. Damage speeds up in hot weather.
WANT IT HANDLED?
Let a licensed applicator take it from here.
Tell us about your lawn. We’ll get back to you with a free quote.
Prefer to talk? 817-382-1722Licensed applicator, Texas Department of Agriculture · License #0984138