Armyworms are Marching into Madison County!!
August is always a peak time for armyworm activity, but 2016 may be the worst year yet. Going to bed with a beautiful green lawn and waking up to a brown, half-eaten lawn is quite a shock to most homeowners. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about armyworms:
1.What are they?
Armyworms are the caterpillar of a moth. As pictured above, they are often black with green/yellow stripes. While they primarily eat grass blades, they have been known to eat certain types of vegetables too. They love well manicured bermuda lawns!
2.Do I have them?
Before noticing turf damage , a homeowner may first see moths flying around on the prop
erty. This usually is followed by a large number of birds coming down to feast on the caterpillars. The most obvious sign will be a lawn that was previously green quickly becoming brown, either in spots or across the entire property.
3.How do I treat them?
One word, “Quickly!”. An untreated lawn with a large infestation can easily be devoured over a period of 2-3 days. The good news is that armyworms can be fairly easily managed by homeowners with access to a spreader or sprayer and chemicals sold at local garden centers. Professional pest control companies are well-equipped to manage infestations for homeowners not wishing to go the “do-it-yourself” route.
4.Which chemicals do I use?
Most local garden centers have a variety of insecticides(typically pytheroids, though we have recently seen an expansion of different classes of insecticides) that come in either a liquid or granular formulation. Utilizing either a backpack sprayer for liquids or rotary or drop spreader for granular formulations, a homeowner can usually treat the average-sized lawn in less than an hour.
5.Which is better?
Liquid, Granular or Both? We prefer utilizing a dual chemical approach in most situations. Liquid insecticides work quickly but do not have much residual action and are easily washed off with rain or irrigation. Granular insecticides work a little more slowly but may also have residual activity that helps prevent armyworm re-infestations.
6.Application Tips:
Do I just need to treat the spots where I see armyworm activity? We recommend treating the entire lawn as it is not uncommon to miss spots of armyworm activity which can lead to additional turf damage.
How do I know if they are gone? Armyworms are often active in the early morning, cooler hours. This is an excellent time to inspect the lawn and driveways/sidewalks for addtional armyworms.
Will they come back? It is not uncommon to see a re-infestation of armyworms between 2 and 4 weeks after the initial infestation. The same treatments listed above should be repeated for any additional infestations.
Synergy² Pest Control Jackson MS
If you’re looking for the right team to handle the issue for you, Synergy² is here to help. We provide trusted services throughout the area, so contact us for the best pest control services around.
Feel free to read more about us and decide if Synergy² is the right company for you. We have over 350 Five-Star Google reviews for pest control service in the Jackson metro area (Jackson/Madison/Brandon/Ridgeland). Check out our newest location reviews for pest control service in Jackson, MS here at Synergy² Jackson Pest Control!
Interested in learning more about Armyworms? Please visit the following websites for more information:
https://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/landscape/lawns/ent-1007/
https://www.noble.org/blog/armyworms-what-you-need-to-know/
https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/fall-armyworm-in-turf