Teg Blog & News

Being aware of the various threats to your yard can help you protect your grass from damage. It can be incredibly discouraging to work on your yard throughout the year only to have it damaged by pests. Pests can damage your grass at the root level causing it to become discolored and eventually die off. Some pests will cause damage to the grass blades and make your lawn look unhealthy from the top down. Other types of pests can seriously damage the root system of your lawn and make it impossible for your grass to remain healthy. Pests can be a big problem for lawns throughout California. Learning about pests that are common in your area can help you keep an eye out for potential problems.

White Grubs

White grubs are a common lawn pest in California and in many places throughout the United States. These grubs are beetle larvae. White grubs can cause widespread damage to your lawn because they feed on the roots of your grass. If you have a widespread white grub infestation, these pests can eat away at the roots of your grass and eventually cause unsightly damage throughout your yard. The grass that is damaged by these pests will start out looking wilted and eventually turn into brown patches of dead grass.

Cutworms

Cutworms are immature moths. Adult cutworm moths lay their eggs on the tips of grass blades. When the eggs hatch, the cutworms feed on the grass blades. After a few weeks of feeding, the worms turn into moths and perpetuate the cycle by laying eggs on the grass. A serious cutworm infestation can leave your lawn looking unhealthy. It can be difficult to see cutworms in action because they feed during the night. The best way to identify a cutworm infestation is to learn to identify the type of damage they cause.

Sod Webworms

Sod webworms are the larvae of the sod webworm moth. This pest causes damage to lawns by eating grass blades and stems. A severe infestation can leave large patches of your grass looking brown and unhealthy.

Chinch Bug

Chinch bugs cause damage to grass in two ways. First, they feed off the sap inside the grass blades by sucking them dry. Once the cinch bug is done feeding off of a grass blade it then secretes what amounts to a poison into the grass blade. This substance prevents the grass from absorbing water and leads to the death of the grass blade. The examples above are not a comprehensive list of pests that are a threat to your California yard. They are, however, some of the most common pests that cause problems for homeowners in this area. It is always good to know what pests are a threat to your yard. You can keep an eye out for early signs of trouble and take action before your entire lawn gets damaged.