They are back!! We have seen armyworm larvae in Prosper, McKinney and Celina lawns! So watch for them. They are hungry. Last year, we found them in August, and in 2016 September.
Armyworm larva vary in color from dark greenish-brown to black. On each side, there are long pale white, orange, and dark brown stripes along the length of the abdomen. Mature larvae are approximately 1 ½ inches long.
A small worm with a monster appetite may be destroying your grasses. The fall armyworm feeds on foliage, creating browned-out areas. Detect and control the fall armyworm before your lawn becomes its feeding ground.
The insect over-winters in the South Texas. The moths fly north, and by early Fall they have reached northern parts of the U.S., laying eggs along the way. The caterpillars prefer to munch on pastures and lawns.
Best to find armyworms when they’re small before they do the most damage. About 80% of the damage from these caterpillars occurs in the last 4-5 days of their feeding. They feed for about two-weeks, and it’s just that last stage that is causing most of the damage. So if you can find these caterpillars when they’re smaller, that makes it easier to control them before they cause damage.
Young fall armyworms are small and it’s hard to see them. The best time to check for them is morning or evening. Check your lawn, sidewalk, and driveway.
If more than two-to-three worms per-square-foot are found in lawns, they can be controlled with insecticides. Call Don Felan at LawnAmerica 214-738-0833.