Learning the DIY hacks on how to get rid of sod webworms will save the cost of having to hire a pest expert. When brown patches form in your lawn, many reasons are behind. If proper watering or applying fungicides doesn’t seem to help, that could be a result of turf pests like sod webworms.
Some lawns may already have a few sod webworms, but the damage will become noticeable when populations increase. However, in this article, you will learn how to get rid of sod webworms that can threaten your lawn.
Description: How to Identify Sod Webworms
In any pest control process, pest identification is the first step you should attempt. This enables you to know what exactly you are dealing with it.
Your grass can die for many reasons from fungus to pests to stress factors. Sod webworms are the larvae of the moths and the genus Crambus. The larvae grow to be about 3/4 of an inch long and they have 10 grayish-brown or light green bodies with darker spots and a darker head.
Note that it’s the larvae that do most of the damage as they will eat grass and create patches of dead turf. Adult sod webworms don’t feed on grass but adult activity can be signs that eggs are nearby.
Multiple generations of sod webworms occur throughout the year but generally, larvae will feed on your lawn during spring and another generation will feed during fall.
Most Lawns can resist, a few sod webworms but in cases where the population drastically increases, patches will form and grow larger as the problem persists.
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Picture of Sod Webworm
Below is a picture of a sod webworm;
Signs of Sod Webworms and Where to Spot them
After successfully identifying your pests and what their activity looks like, it is time to check for their signs and possible places to spot them.
- Start with inspecting around your property to confirm their presence.
- Look for discolored or brown patches and use your hands to come along the edges, simply press back on different segments of turf and look for any sod webworms in the area.
- When they are inactive, sod webworms will hide in silk-lined burrows in thatch, and soil.
- To coax them into coming out, you can flush them out by pouring a solution of one tablespoon of dishwashing soap, and one gallon of water over suspected patches.
- Pour 1 gallon over 1 square yard at a time, any sod webworms should surface within a few minutes.
Read also: How to use Bifen IT Insecticide
How to Get Rid of Sod Webworms
After identifying your pests and signs of their activity on your property, is time to start treatment before starting any treatment. Ensure to wear your personal protective equipment or PPE and remember to keep all people and pets off the treated areas until dry.
To get rid of sod webworms in your lawn. You’ll need to use insecticides labeled for sod webworm control like Bifen L/P and Reclaim IT.
Bifen L/P is a granular insecticide that will need to be watered into the soil. So we also recommend following up with a broadcast treatment of Reclaim IT both products work on contact with the pest.
The insecticides mixed together will create an effective reaction on both surface and subsurface control, effectively eliminating sod webworms from all areas of your lawn.
Calculate your treatment area’s square footage by measuring the length and width, and then multiplying them together. You’ll use this to determine how much product you’ll need to use since treating just the spots you found sod webworms.
We won’t guarantee that they haven’t moved to other areas. You’ll make a spray treatment over your entire lawn with both products.
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How to Apply Bifen L/P Granules
Begin by applying the Bifen L/P granules with a push of the spreader.
Apply the label rate of 1.15 pounds of product per 1,000 square feet of the treatment area.
Load your spreader with the proper amount of Bifen L/P based on your calculations and evenly distribute it throughout your treatment area.
Spray the Bifen L/P granules in parallel lines once across the area, then spray the other half at a perpendicular angle to cover the area in its entirety.
Once you are done with the Bifen L/P application. It will need to be watered into the soil to reach the terps root zone. Do this with an application of Reclaim IT.
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How to Apply Reclaim IT Insecticide
Reclaim IT is a liquid insecticide concentrate that can control over 70 pests including sod webworms, it will need to be mixed with water before application.
Reclaim IT is used to activate the Bifen L/P granules, but will also provide effective control for many insects as well to treat sod webworms.
- Apply the labeled rate of 0.8 to 2.25 fluid ounces of Reclaim IT per thousand square feet of the treatment area.
- If your lawn is seeing heavy activity from sod webworms, you can use a rate as high as 1 fluid ounce per thousand square feet.
- We recommend using a 20-gallon hose-end sprayer since you’ll make broad applications throughout the entire lawn.
- And you will want to use enough water to push the Bifen granules down into the soil to treat isolated areas of turf.
- You may also use a 1-gallon hand sprayer, to use the 20-gallon hose-end sprayer. Remove the reservoir from the nozzle.
- Ensure the sprayer’s control valve and your water pump are off.
- Attach the nozzle to the hose at the proper amount of Reclaim IT infill the reservoir with enough water to treat the entire lawn.
- Ensure you thoroughly coat the area of water with Bifen granules, use at least two gallons of water per 1,000 square feet of the treatment area.
- Ensure your control valve and water pump are still off. Reattach the reservoir to the nozzle.
- Once you have ensured a tight connection, you can now turn the water on to spray.
- To kill sod webworms in your lawn, evenly distribute the entire amount of product over your treatment area.
Note:
Once you have finished applying Reclaim IT, postpone any regular irrigation or mowing in the area for at least 24 hours.
Ensure you have checked ahead of time to make sure rain won’t fall. When using Reclaim IT, be sure to apply on calm days when wind speeds are low to minimize drift.
How to Prevent Sod Webworms
Even after you’ve applied pesticides like Bifen L/P and Reclaim IT, the best way to stop sod webworm activities is to prevent them from happening. An active sod webworm can create burrows with silk and debris.
What can you do to limit their hiding spots?
- You can break your lawn readily to remove fat and fallen leaves.
- You can keep your lawn clear and exposed sod webworms to their natural predators.
- Proper lawn maintenance will also strengthen your lawn and allow it to easily recover from minor sod webworm activity.
- Trim back overhanging tree branches to reduce shade and promote proper water retention in soil.
- Mow your grass to a taller height about 3 to 4 inches to encourage root growth.
- Finally. ensure you fertilize your lawn with the proper amount of nitrogen it needs, so it can stay healthy and fight against pests symptoms.
Conclusion
Sod webworms can eat away a large patch of turf at a time, but there are ways to manage and control an infestation following this DIY guide on how to get rid of sod webworms.
Carrying out these pest control guides, we believe you will be able to eliminate sod webworms from your property completely. Keep visiting pestclue for more DIY hacks on pest and pest control, do well to share!
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