Within the last week, we have seen an invasion of armyworms in Ohio lawns. This is very rare. These invaders are not technically a worm, but moth larvae (caterpillars). They get their name because they show up in large numbers. Because they feed on the grass blades, your grass can rapidly turn brown in large areas.
How Do I Know If I Have An Invasion?
• Rapidly expanding brown areas of grass, often turning from green to brown within days
• Grass blades that look “chewed”
• Frase in the grass (small green pellets left behind)
• Dark brown/black color (may have bright striping) worm like insects in grass
Where Did Armyworms Come From?
In short, the south. Armyworms tend to be a southern issue, but when tropical storms push through at the right times, they can carry adults and their eggs into northern states. The frequent storms that moved in from southern areas has spread them across much of the state.
What Happens Now?
Fortunately, they are feeding on the grass blade and not the root system, much of the grass will recover given enough time and proper cultural practices. We have an application that will treat the armyworms at no cost with a 5 or 7 step program.
Will Armyworms Kill My Lawn?
The good news is that armyworms target the leaves of the grass and generally do not eat the crowns or roots. As we go into fall most lawns will recover.
How Long Will It Take The Treatment To Work?
Treatment will kill the pest within several days. However, it will take time for the grass plants to grow new grass blades. Treatment will be done at no charge with Brookside’s 5 and 7 step program.
Leave a Reply