Susceptible Turfgrass:

Several species of ants commonly inhabit home lawns and ornamental plantings of trees and shrubs

Ants seldom cause serious damage to home lawns. They may cause minor damage to the turf by loosening the soil and constructing small mounds in the nesting areas.

Susceptible Turfgrass:

All turfgrass species

Cutworms and armyworms are active from mid-March to October. They feed on leaves and crowns and may cut off plants near the soil surface. Larvae feed at night and hide in the thatch layer or in a burrow in the soil during the day. Turfgrass may be closely clipped around aeration holes, which larvae commonly occupy. Damage appears as circular spots of dead grass or depressed spots. Armyworms, especially, prefer damp areas.

Susceptible Turfgrass:

Most turfgrass species

Billbug damage usually appears when summer drought stress is common. Light infestations in lawns often produce small dead spots that look like the turf disease, dollar spot. Sometimes the damage looks like irregular mottling or browning in the turf. Heavy infestations can result in complete destruction of the turf, usually by August. The major problem with billbug damage is that it looks like a variety of the other problems.

Susceptible Turfgrass:

Bluegrass, creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass. Most North American turfgrasses.

Most damage is attributed to the larvae feeding on and killing stems. A single individual can injure up to 20 stems. Stems are weakened and broken due to the boring activities of the young larvae. Older larvae reside at the soil or thatch surface where they feed on the crowns. Injury is generally expressed as growing areas of yellow and brown patches.

Susceptible Turfgrass:

Most commonly reported as a pest on St. Augustine grass but also infests most other turfgrasses.

Chinch bug infestations frequently occur in turfgrass with thick thatch that is exposed to full sunlight during periods of hot, dry weather. Chinch bug damage is often less noticeable during the Spring and early summer. Damage frequently appears from early July through late August when the insects are actively feeding.

Susceptible Turfgrass:

All turfgrass species

Cutworms and armyworms are active from mid-March to October. They feed on leaves and crowns and may cut off plants near the soil surface. Larvae feed at night and hide in the thatch layer or in a burrow in the soil during the day. Turfgrass may be closely clipped around aeration holes, which larvae commonly occupy. Damage appears as circular spots of dead grass or depressed spots.

Susceptible Turfgrass:

All turfgrass species

Heavy white grub infestations can destroy grass roots, causing the affected area to become spongy, which allows the sod to be rolled back like a piece of carpet. Evidence of grub damage, including patches of dead or dying turf, are visible during spring (April and May) and late summer and fall (September and October) A good indication of a grub infestation is the presence of skunks, crows, or moles feeding on turf.

Susceptible Turfgrass:

All turfgrass species

The southern mole cricket does most of its damage by loosening the soil around the root system causing the roots to dry and desiccate. The tawny mole cricket feeds almost exclusively on plant materials and its feeding on root and shoot can destroy a well-established turf planting. Its damage to turf can range from light tunneling and small mounds where the adults enter the soil, to a complete loss of stand.

Susceptible Turfgrass:

Most turfgrass species

The damage caused by sod webworms may first appear in early spring. The damage shows up as small dead patches of grass among the normally growing grass. The summer generation may cause general turf thinning or even irregular dead patches in late June into early August. Sod webworms prefer sunny areas and the larvae are often found on south facing, steep slopes and banks, where it is hot and dry. Heavily shaded turf is seldom attacked by the larvae.

Susceptible Turfgrass:

All turfgrass species, but centipedegrass is the most susceptible

Spittlebug feeding causes a purple and/or white stripe to run along the grass blades of infested turfgrass, especially centipedegrass. In heavy infestations, the turf wilts and the tips turn yellow, eventually brown, and then curl. In St. Augustine grass, spittlebug injury resembles that of chinch bugs. However, unlike chinch bug injury, which tends to occur in sunny areas, spittlebug injury usually appears in shady areas.