Lawn and Turf: Ants categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects revision date: 2022-10-30 12:44 Thatching ant moundPhoto 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 a severe […]
Lawn and Turf: Billbugs categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects revision date: 2023-04-04 12:00 Billbug adultPhoto 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 not affected. […]
Lawn and Turf: Chinch bugs categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects revision date: 2023-04-04 12:00 Chinch bug adultPhoto 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 often resembles […]
Lawn and Turf: Cutworms categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects revision date: 2023-04-04 12:00 Redbacked cutwormPhoto 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 marked. They […]
Lawn and Turf: European crane fly categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects revision date: 2023-04-04 12:00 European cranefly damage on lawnPhoto 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 patches of […]
Lawn and Turf: Leafhoppers categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects revision date: 2022-10-30 11:45 LeafhopperPhoto 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 above the […]
Lawn and Turf: Moles categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects revision date: 2022-12-28 12:00 MolePhoto 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 and Oregon. […]
Lawn and Turf: Sod webworm categories: Lawn and Turf Lawn and Turf Insects revision date: 2022-10-27 12:27 Sod webwormPhoto 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 erratic patterns over […]