Lawn and Turf: Ants Categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects Last review date: 2025-10-14 08:20 Thatching ant mound Photo by: A.L. Antonelli Biology Ants are primarily a nuisance pest in lawns. Occasionally, they may kill the grass, causing an aesthetic problem. Various species may occur in lawns, including harvester ants which can have […]
Lawn and Turf: Billbugs Categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects Last review date: 2025-08-16 02:33 Billbug adult Photo by: K. Grey Biology Billbugs are a problem in eastern Washington. They have not yet been detected in western Washington. Both the adults and larvae cause damage. Kentucky bluegrass is severely damaged, while bentgrass is […]
Lawn and Turf: Chinch bugs Categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects Last review date: 2025-08-16 02:34 Chinch bug adult Photo by: D. Pehling Biology Chinch bugs feed on the stems, injecting a toxic saliva as they feed. Damage typically appears in mid- to late summer. Affected grass turns yellow and dies. The damage […]
Lawn and Turf: Cutworms Categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects Last review date: 2025-08-16 02:36 Redbacked cutworm Photo by: K. Grey Biology Cutworms are the larvae of noctuid moths. These common moths are medium-sized with fairly dull coloration. The greenish, grayish, or tan caterpillars are hairless, nocturnal, and generally spotted, striped, or otherwise […]
Lawn and Turf: European Chafer Categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects Last review date: 2026-06-15 06:25 European chafer beetle adult Photo by: Bugwood.org Biology The European Chafer is a newly introduced invasive turf pest that is spreading through the south Puget Sound region. The larvae of European Chafers are c-shaped grubs, with well-defined […]
Lawn and Turf: European Crane Fly Categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects Last review date: 2026-06-15 06:24 European cranefly damage on lawn Photo by: C.R. Foss Biology The larvae of the European cranefly feed on the crowns of grasses during the winter and spring. Damage can be severe in lawns, appearing as large […]
Lawn and Turf: Leafhoppers Categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects Last review date: 2025-08-16 02:41 Leafhopper Photo by: K. Grey Biology Leafhoppers are slender, somewhat wedge-shaped insects that hop or fly just above the lawn surface when disturbed. They are variously-colored, from yellowish to green to gray-brown. The wings are typically held roof-like […]
Lawn and Turf: Moles Categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects Last review date: 2025-08-16 02:45 Mole Photo by: D. Pehling Biology There are three species of moles in the Pacific Northwest which are considered a problem in landscapes. The Townsend’s mole (Scapanus townsendii) is the most common and is found throughout western Washington […]
Lawn and Turf: Sod webworm Categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects Last review date: 2025-08-23 12:13 Sod webworm Photo by: R.D. Akre Biology Sod webworms are the larval stage of lawn moths. The adults are slender, grayish white to tan moths with a wingspan of approximately 1″. They typically fly at dusk in […]