Sod Webworm Identification & Prevention

Sod webworms are the larval stage of a small lawn moth that grows between ½ and ¾ of an inch in length. The adult moths are white or tan; during the summer, they can be seen landing and flying in grassy areas. When at rest, their wings sit against their body, giving these moths a long, narrow appearance.

The sod webworm looks similar to a caterpillar and is greenish or yellowish-brown. Sod webworms do best in hot, humid weather, making them a pest that thrives in Cape Coral and the rest of Florida. These pests are best known for being lawn-destroying insects and cause unsightly brown patches to develop in grassy areas. Reach out to us today for pest and lawn care services in Cape Coral!

Sod webworms are dangerous to the health of our Florida lawns. They have a hearty appetite and will feed on grass for several weeks before morphing into adult moths. The feeding habits of sod webworms damage the blades of grass they are eating and cause the grass to turn brown. Discovering unsightly brown patches within your lawn is a common first sign of a sod webworm infestation.

In addition to the damage that sod webworms cause, their presence attracts the attention of hungry birds and wild animals like skunks. To find the sod webworms, they will dig up your lawn and cause even more damage.

You have a problem with sod webworms because our yards provide them with the perfect habitat. Sod webworms can become a problem on any grassy Florida property. Grass provides them with everything they need: food, shelter, and breeding sites.

Adult moths lay their eggs on blades of grass, then five to ten days later, the eggs hatch into larvae. The sod webworm larvae then feed, form cocoons, and develop into new moths. Cool-season turf grass is most attractive to these pests, specifically St. Augustine grass. Like most lawn pests, sod webworms are most likely to attack an unhealthy lawn before a healthy lawn. Proper lawn care services can go a long way in preventing a sod webworm problem.

Large populations of sod webworms are most likely to form in open grassy areas. Outdoor spaces in Cape Coral where these pests thrive include parks, golf courses, athletic fields, and our backyards.

Sod webworms are most active at night, feeding on grass after dusk. In the morning, you aren't likely to see sod webworms. You will, however, see the damage they have caused to the edges of the blades of grass that make up your lawn. Their damage may be minor at first, creating small areas of brown grass, but will quickly become widespread.

Turf-damaging insects like sod webworms are best identified and treated with the help of a professional. If you have noticed the potential presence of sod webworms on your property, immediately reach out to us at Coastal Lawn and Pest. We are here to perform advanced turf-damaging insect control to eliminate these pests. We can also perform the regular lawn care services necessary to guard your property against sod webworms and other lawn pests in the future. We are a local pest control company that understands the unique needs of homeowners in Cape Coral. For more information about our home pest control and lawn care services, reach out now.

The easiest way to prevent issues with sod webworms is to partner with a professional and implement regular lawn care services. For added protection, we want to help you learn how to prevent sod webworms with the help of the following tips:

• Maintain your lawn to ensure that grass has a strong root system that can hold up against an attack by sod webworms.
• Mow regularly to keep your property’s grass short.
• Place your lawn on a regular fertilization schedule.
• Know how much water your lawn needs; don’t over or underwater it.

For help identifying sod webworm damage on your property, call us today.