Our area has had devastating outbreaks of Sod Webworms over the past 5 years.
Adult female Sod Webworm moths lay eggs while flying over turf, typically during the evening. The young larvae spend the winter inactive in the grass or just beneath the soil before becoming active in the spring. They begin feeding at this stage and eventually transform into adult moths. The cycle then repeats for 2-3 life cycles before the winter dormancy.
Grub Worms are the larvae of the June Bug. These worms can devastate a lawn because if there are enough worms in the soil, they can eat the root system causing the grass above to die off. The grass can be pulled up like a piece of carpet. Usually, the area will need to be resodded because there is not a sustainable root system.
Army Worms feed 24/7. They received their name because once the lawn is infected with the worms, they "march" across a lawn feasting on the grass. The telltale sign is watching the lawn become decimated from day to day until they have physically consumed the entire lawn. The photo below shows how they have "marched" across the lawn.
