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Lawn Insect Pests
- Follow
a few simple rules to avoid most lawn damage
from pests
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Summary: Healthy lawns can tolerate
considerable damage from insect pests. Proper
irrigation, fertilizing and mowing are far more
important than pesticides to control lawn pests.
Follow these simple rules and prevent most problems
from lawn insects.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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Which lawn pests cause
damage?
There are many insects,
and a few related arthropods, that can potentially
damage lawns in the US. If you need a comprehensive
review of all pests at a professional level see the
book listed below. For many of us, however, the
following few will be the most important ones you'll
deal with in home lawns.
Certain crane fly species
(right) are emerging pests in some parts of the US
and can be particularly damaging to newly planted
lawns. Crane fly larvae feed on grass roots during
cool parts of the year and can kill large patches of
lawn as temperatures rise and the soil dries out
(see Related
Articles below).
Mole crickets
are pests mainly in the warm, humid southeastern
states where their burrowing causes physical damage
to soil and lawns
(see Related
Articles below).
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European
crane fly adult ~ 1-1/2 inch long.
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White grubs feed
on grass roots causing considerable damage and dead
patches. These large larvae are the immature stage
of often ornate beetles like the Japanese beetle.
Lawn moth larvae are the caterpillar stage of
small moths that feed at the soil surface on stems
and grass leaves. And, chinch bugs feed above ground on
grass blades. See Related Articles below for
pictures, life history and control of these lawn
pests.
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Lawn care "rules"
Healthy
lawns can sustain and outgrow most damage from
lawn pests. This means that by following a few
simple rules you can avoid most lawn pests and
diseases without using pesticides. The three
most important rules for successful home
lawn care are:
(1) Don't over water
or over fertilize - grass will be more
susceptible to insects and disease if forced to grow
too quickly. Allow grass to go through a natural
wet/dry cycle between irrigation. Or, simply stop
watering in early summer and allow grass to go dormant
during the dry months.
Most lawns need far
less fertilizer than they get each year. The
excess fertilizer runs off and pollutes rivers and
lakes or forces the grass to grow too fast making it
susceptible to lawn pests. Established lawns only need
a light application of fertilizer twice a year in the
spring and fall.
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(2) Test the soil at
least every 5 years and add lime and
micro-nutrients as needed. This is probably the most
overlooked aspect of lawn care. Check with your
local Cooperative
Extension (US state Extension office
directory) about where you can get your soil tested
locally for a small fee. Yearly applications of lime
(dolomite lime, not hydrated lime)
are needed in many areas in addition to
micro-nutrients.
(3) Mow at the proper height for your grass
type but most importantly don't cut the grass too
short. Many turf managers mow at the highest setting
possible for their equipment. Your grass needs
some leaf surface (grass blades) in order to be
healthy!
If you follow these
simple guidelines your grass can resist damage from
many insect pests and diseases without using
insecticides or fungicide. Plus, if an insect pest
or disease does creep in, the lawn will be healthier
to begin with and it will be easier to treat the
problem.
Chinch Bug Pests
of Lawns
Crane Flies &
Leatherjackets
White Grubs
Mole Crickets
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Mission: To
provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information
for solving common insect and mite problems around
your home, business and landscape using least-toxic
methods.
Jack DeAngelis,
Ph.D.
Please see the Disclaimer statements as
well.
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