If you’ve been on social media at all in the past few days, you may have seen people talking about the recent occurrence of armyworms in certain areas in Kansas. These little guys have a taste for turfgrass and can cause significant damages to a lawn if left untreated. We want to make sure you have everything you need to identify these pests and to protect your property from them.
What are they?
Armyworms are the larval form of armyworm moths. They are typically 1.5-2 inches in their larval stage, which is what can be seen in lawns. Their color varies from a brownish, greenish, or grayish color. They also typically have a series of yellow, green, or brown stripes down their back.
What do they do?
The first sign of armyworms is generally the appearance of brown spots in your lawn. They also may leave grass looking ragged or chewed up.
If you are seeing any of these signs in your yard, take a look and see if you can spot any of these worms. It is important to identify the source of spots early because armyworms can move quicky if left untreated. In some cases, armyworms have been known to cause large brown areas that can cover an entire yard in a matter of days.
Treatment
Because of how rapidly these little guys can cause significant damages, its important to identify and treat for them quickly. It is recommended to have your yard professionally treated for them to make sure they don’t spread to more of your lawn or even a neighboring lawn.
If you are seeing signs of armyworm activity in your lawn, our sister company, Schendel Lawn & Landscape would be happy to help. If you are a customer of our lawn care services, give us a call and we can help keep your lawn healthy and safe.
Schendel Lawn & Landscape – Topeka: (785) 286-0015 – Lawrence: (785) 330-5326
