Army Worms?

[Gopwh2020]

I was out pulling some crabgrass in my new bermuda this afternoon and pulled up a plant and found this guy moving around. Pulled up a second plant and found another. Are these Army Worms? If so, what's my best course of action? Thx.

[Tony alony]

I was out pulling some crabgrass in my new bermuda this afternoon and pulled up a plant and found this guy moving around. Pulled up a second plant and found another. Are these Army Worms? If so, what's my best course of action? Thx.

Here's a link that may help: http://lpm.uga.edu/turf/armyworms.html
Here's another: http://www.ent.uga.edu/pest-management/ ... e-TURF.pdf
Check back with the forum after you've done a little research. Also give your local extension service a call to find out more specific info for your location.

Good Luck!

Edit: If you decide to get information from your local county agent, I've found it beneficial to ask for a person who knows about turf that's grown in your area. Many of the local extension agents are "master gardeners", so they only know about "garden flowers".

[Michael Wise]

I can't tell from the pic if it's sod webworms or armyworms. Could be either.

Its that time of year for fall armyworms, though. They are pretty bad due to above average rain in my area and much of the south.

My neighborhood has been hit pretty hard.

You can use any insecticide labeled for armyworms. Sprays that can actually contact the armyworms is going to work better than a granule. Spray early morning or early evening for best results. That is when they are out feeding. And will let more be hit by the poison.

If you care to go the organic route, a product containing bacillius thuringiensis will also work. It is also applied as a spray in the early morning or early evening. This product requires that the armyworms actually eat it when they are eating the grass.

Either type of insecticide may require reapplication. Just keep an eye out for new activity.

[Michael Wise]

Here's some of my armyworm damage. Pardon the weeds.

You go to bed one night with green grass, and the next morning you could wake up to brown. Good times.

ImageUploadedByYard Help1471823731.239490.jpg

ImageUploadedByYard Help1471823750.075532.jpg

ImageUploadedByYard Help1471823762.940559.jpg

[Tony alony]

+1 Michael Wise. One never knows from one year to the next what challenges will surface.

[Michael Wise]

And the asshats don't eat weeds. Go figure.

[Tony alony]

@Michael Wise. I'm sure you're not worried. Because Bermuda lawns never, ever, actually die!

[Michael Wise]

Never worried.

[Redtenchu]

And the asshats don't eat weeds. Go figure.

Ouch

Picky eaters, Bermuda only? or just turf grass in general?

If we could find a worm that ate everything BUT Bermuda, that would be fun!

[Razorhog]

Been raining pretty solid for a week here. About a week ago I noticed a brown spot but didn't think much of it. It grew and grew and when the rain stopped yesterday this is what I have.



You can clearly see the line between Zoysia and Bermuda. Sprayed some bug-b-gone and I could see them dying. I hope they all fry! There must be 10,000 of them.

[Michael Wise]

When times are tough in the south they'll eat other stuff (other grasses, weeds, vegetables, or ornamental plants), but prefer bermuda for some reason.

[Gopwh2020]

After a bunch of research and talking to some professional lawn and garden folks around here, we are pretty sure they are army worms that we caught early. I sprayed the lawn and will investigate again in a day or so.

[Razorhog]

Arrgghh why don't they eat crabgrass?? The crabgrass looks like islands of green in my brown bermuda haha.

[luderiffic]

Here in West Tennessee, our whole community is dealing with a massive outbreak of Army worms. I personally have had two infestations this year, luckily caught it early both times.

[zeke36]

I have armyworms and sod webworms and they are aggressive and damaged about 1200 sqft in a couple of days. Make you treat quickly I take a little to much joy in running over them with jd220a

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[Michael Wise]

I like mowing them, too.

[dfw_pilot]

After ... talking to some professional lawn and garden folks around here

Would you be willing to share with whom that was? I'm curious.