Army Worms

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Pirate Russ
Posts: 267
Joined: August 25th, 2010, 11:26 am
Location: Northern NJ
Grass Type: Turbo, Cochise IV, FalconV and LS1200 TTTF and Award KBG
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Army Worms

Post by Pirate Russ » September 14th, 2021, 12:55 pm

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nat ... 4bacc01e6d

I typically don't treat the lawn for insects. I used Milky Spore several years ago, and have applied nothing over the last 5-8 years (and have had no issues). Anyway, i am getting concerned about the army worms as they can destroy a lawn almost overnight. Is there an organic approach that some have been taking or do we need to use a product like Grubex (which treats for armyworms)? Thanks.

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MorpheusPA
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Location: Zone 6 (Eastern PA)
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Re: Army Worms

Post by MorpheusPA » September 14th, 2021, 1:29 pm

If you have them, treat for them. If not...don't. :-)

You'll need to use the appropriate product in this case. Organic controls will be, at best, unreliable--nematodes, I think, in this case. They can work if used correctly, but that can be hard.

Pirate Russ
Posts: 267
Joined: August 25th, 2010, 11:26 am
Location: Northern NJ
Grass Type: Turbo, Cochise IV, FalconV and LS1200 TTTF and Award KBG
Lawn Size: Not Specified
Level: Not Specified

Re: Army Worms

Post by Pirate Russ » September 14th, 2021, 2:10 pm

Morph - Thanks. My only concern would be by the time you realize you have them, it might be too late.

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MorpheusPA
Posts: 18129
Joined: March 5th, 2009, 7:32 pm
Location: Zone 6 (Eastern PA)
Grass Type: Elite KBG
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
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Re: Army Worms

Post by MorpheusPA » September 14th, 2021, 4:45 pm

True, but you'll see the symptoms. Regrettably, you can't really treat until you have them, either. GrubEx works, but should be applied on the worms themselves (actually, little caterpillars).

I keep a bag in stock just in case. If (when) I don't use it, it becomes my application of GrubEx the following May, and I buy a new one for stock.

Pirate Russ
Posts: 267
Joined: August 25th, 2010, 11:26 am
Location: Northern NJ
Grass Type: Turbo, Cochise IV, FalconV and LS1200 TTTF and Award KBG
Lawn Size: Not Specified
Level: Not Specified

Re: Army Worms

Post by Pirate Russ » September 15th, 2021, 8:53 pm

Morph - Thanks. Keeping one in stock in good advice.


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Dchall_San_Antonio
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Joined: December 17th, 2008, 1:53 am
Location: San Antonio, Texas
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Re: Army Worms

Post by Dchall_San_Antonio » September 22nd, 2021, 9:58 pm

We get armyworms on our Texas mountain laurel plants. I spray with BT Worm Killer and they stop feeding immediately. Sadly Scott's has absorbed the Green Light garden products company and discontinued almost everything they sold. Here is a similar product.
Image

If you search for BT worm killer you get a bunch of alternatives. The active ingredient is the bacillus thuringensis bacterium, which is a disease causing paralysis in caterpillars. It is harmless to animals, fish, birds, people, and most other insects.

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