There could be troops invading your North Mississippi lawn right now … but you might not even hear them marching in.
In fact, you might notice the damage they do to your home lawn before you see them. We’re talking, of course, about armyworms. And they have a mission as part of their takeover. In fact, they're after one thing: your lawn.
Armyworms get their name from how they move across your lawn in an army-like fashion – leaving dead grass in their wake. Not something anyone wants to see in their lawn.
Let’s learn more about this troop of invaders, armyworm prevention strategies, armyworm damage in lawns, and armyworm control in Tupelo, Oxford & New Albany, MS.
Nobody wants insects damaging their lawn. However, understanding armyworm prevention and treatment options can give you the knowledge you need to manage these pests better and prevent infestations.
Fall armyworms usually infest lawns in southern and transition zone states, making North Mississippi an ideal location for them to attack.
What do fall armyworms look like? Their larvae are 1-inch to 1.5 inches long and dark greenish-brown to black with long, white, orange, and dark brown stripes along the abdomen.
The adult moths have 1-inch-long bodies with a 1.5-inch wingspan, a tan body, and a tiny white spot centered on each forewing.
Early damage from fall armyworms appears as drought-stressed grass, but extensive infestations can lead to complete browning.
Examine your lawn closely, and you’ll notice ragged holes in individual grass blades or areas where grass has been eaten down to the ground, forming brown patches. Another indication of armyworm activity is a lacy, transparent pattern on grass blades where they have been chewed.
These pests particularly favor new sod or freshly seeded grass.
Adult armyworms usually lay eggs on flat leaves of trees and flowers or even on patio furniture and light posts. This might be another key to identifying fall armyworms in your yard. They enter your space by riding air currents, then drop to settle in.
Each female can lay egg masses containing 100-500 armyworm eggs. The eggs hatch five to seven days later. The fall armyworm larvae are what eat their way through your lawn.
If you’re in an area of Tupelo, Oxford & New Albany, MS, suspected of having fall armyworms, look for sticky egg masses to appear on buildings, patio sets, decor, plants, and other outdoor surfaces.
That’s when you can get ahead of fall armyworms, which is the best way to avoid their damage. Armyworm control can be achieved through an insecticide treatment. But since armyworms can have multiple generations per year, you may need various applications per year to keep these pests at bay.
If armyworms have come through and destroyed your lawn, you may wonder how to get your great, green lawn back.
If fall armyworms feed on the upper portion of your grass blades, they might recover on their own with proper care.
However, in cases of severe infestation, reseeding or resodding the affected areas to restore the lawn becomes essential.
This is because the feeding process is similar to cutting your lawn too short, removing too much of the plant at once, which can cause the plants to struggle to survive the shock.
Fall armyworms in grass are pests that start coming into lawns in July and linger through August and September. Once the weather gets hot, you want to stay on top of these pests to avoid severe lawn damage.
But if you’re not sure whether what you’re noticing in your lawn is armyworm damage, or if you’d like to confirm your findings, give Lawn & Pest Solutions a call. We’d love to help you with armyworm control in North Mississippi. Our experts are trained to spot this pest and eliminate it before it causes significant damage to your lawn.
Ready to stop the armyworms in Tupelo, Oxford & New Albany, MS? Request a free quote today. We’ll review our options together so you can make the best choice for you. Then you can sit back and enjoy your yard – worry-free!
Image Source | Armyworm