Army worm time!

[Michael Wise]

Keep your eyes peeled bermuda growers!

In my area they are tiny right now. Hard to see.

If you notice any areas of the lawn looking bad, take a closer look. Look under the canopy of its the heat of the day. Better odds of seeing them early morning or evening.

If you have any areas browning out and upon closer inspection the leaves of the grass minus the mid vein are eaten, look for these little bastards. They can eat a couple thousand square foot over night.

Good news is the damage will not be permanent. It will grow back, but will look like hell for a couple weeks.

Most any spray liquid insecticide will do the job.

If you are feeling organic at the moment and want a selective kill of only the army worms, bacillius thuringiensis is a really cool caterpillar specific "insecticide".

Keep your eyes peeled!


Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[rodia]

A coworker of mine just had is 6 weeks old seeded Bermuda backyard eaten alive...hopefully it will recover.

As soon as I get home I will check mine!

[ Post made via Android ]

[Michael Wise]

The worst I've had was brand new sod that was only about a week down overrun with them. It came back fine.

But I realize that is a little different scenario from your friends.

Hopefully it'll recover!


Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[rodia]

Thanks for warning Michael!. I just came home, did the soap test and I had plenty of them, in several spots. Some were small, some big...I guess I just caught it before too much damage was done.

Just applied Dylox, so it should take care of them.

Let's see how my coworker grass recovers.

[ Post made via Android ]

[nowataboomer]

What is the soap test?

[Michael Wise]

What is the soap test?

If you have an area you suspect insect damage, but can't see any active bugs, take about a gallon of really soapy water and pour over a square foot or so. Any bugs in that area will writhe to the surface.

A lot of times, and specifically with armyworms, they will not always be visible and feeding at the surface. Armyworms prefer cool evenings or mornings to feed and will retreat to soil level at the heat of the day. This is a good way to check any damaged spot for bugs when troubleshooting mystery damage.

Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[nowataboomer]

Thank you.

[rodia]

By the way, I wanted to go with the BT's but did not know if I had enough time (I have to order them online), as I overseeded my Sahara yard not long ago with Yukon, and did not want to risk to lose the newer Bermuda.

I am trying to go organic (or at least a Hybrid organic), so I was scared I messed things up with Dylox.

After reading it turns out that I was lucky. Apparently Dylox is the one that is most benign with the good guys, and leaves no residue behind.

[24gtpgirl]

Michael, could this be what is causing these brown spots in our Bermuda ?

ImageUploadedByYard Help1406074616.104786.jpg

ImageUploadedByYard Help1406074633.204786.jpg

ImageUploadedByYard Help1406074646.904431.jpg

Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[Michael Wise]

No ma'am. I don't think so.

I can see brown leaves. With army worms there would be NO leaves. Only the tiny vein running down the middle of the leaf.


Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[williecoyote]

Thanks for the heads up Michael. My neighbor is out spraying his Army Worms right now.

He sodded his yard with Tifway 3 years ago. and he has had Army Worms all 3 summers.They will wipe a yard out quickly!!

Fortunately for me, they haven't crossed the street .....yet.

[Begotten]

i think they finally found my yard. some of the celebration plugs i put down last month suddenly started to thin out like straw and i assumed it was a water issue from all the heat. then i noticed birds were swarming the other side of my yard and picking things out of the grass after i would water. and finally i spotted one crawling across the surface.


just finished spraying

[Davejames0426]

i think they finally found my yard. some of the celebration plugs i put down last month suddenly started to thin out like straw and i assumed it was a water issue from all the heat. then i noticed birds were swarming the other side of my yard and picking things out of the grass after i would water. and finally i spotted one crawling across the surface.


just finished spraying

What insecticide did you use?

[Begotten]

i think they finally found my yard. some of the celebration plugs i put down last month suddenly started to thin out like straw and i assumed it was a water issue from all the heat. then i noticed birds were swarming the other side of my yard and picking things out of the grass after i would water. and finally i spotted one crawling across the surface.


just finished spraying

What insecticide did you use?

[Sixohh]

im glad i read this!

[rodia]

i think they finally found my yard. some of the celebration plugs i put down last month suddenly started to thin out like straw and i assumed it was a water issue from all the heat. then i noticed birds were swarming the other side of my yard and picking things out of the grass after i would water. and finally i spotted one crawling across the surface.


just finished spraying

Sorry, I think the ones that survived my yard were blown over the Weekend by the thunderstorms from the west...

I have my BT ready now in case they dare to appear again.

[rodia]

Just a heads up...this suckers are back again both in my yard and my friend's.

This summer is being really weird.

[ Post made via Android ]

[Michael Wise]

I found that many times there are what look like 2-3 different age worms at any given time.

What you are seeing makes me think that if you catch the first "wave" early to be prepared for at least a second "wave".


Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[Begotten]

multiple waves huh? i'll have to keep an eye on it. it looks like the celebration they ate up has already bounced back but i'll be paying closer attention this time.

[scotty t]

I was looking to utilize a bt type product for my bermuda lawn. Trying not to go after any before. The products I had come across at my local stores were dusts. Can these be diluted into a liquid spray? If not how should i approach application of the dust? The one product was a fertilome product. Any help would be appreciated with these little Devils. Would like to get stuff today to take care of these things this evening.

[ Post made via Android ]