As temperatures continue to rise here in Florida, now is the perfect time to keep your lawn safe and Prevent Florida Chinch Bugs and Armyworms this Summer. Then you can sit back and enjoy your luscious, verdant lawn with complete peace-of-mind.
As two of the most commonly found pests during the warmer months, Chinch Bugs and Armyworms can cause significant damage to your turf… but only if you let them! By knowing what to look out for, you can fend off those uninvited guests with ease. Let’s take a look at a few tell-tale signs.
Recognizing Armyworms
Luckily, Armyworms are easy to discern. These spotted green/brown caterpillars reach lengths of up to 1.5 inches and have a darker head marked with an inverted ‘Y’. They’re known for causing bare spots on your lawn – usually newly established turf – and often eat through leaves and crops. Look for their distinctive eggs in your turf too – which are light green and covered in fuzzy scales.
If you think you might have Armyworms, try mixing one tablespoon of liquid dish soap in one gallon of water and pouring the solution onto a patch of your lawn to bring the pests to the surface – or at any time, call the professionals at Luv-A-Lawn for a full evaluation.
Recognizing Chinch Bugs
Chinch Bugs, on the other hand, are a little harder to spot. Over the course of their lifecycle, these tiny insects change color – from orange to brown, to black – and at their largest, are no bigger than a grain of rice. But with a little research, and advice from our team, you can catch them at a glance.
They tend to thrive in droughts when your lawn’s immune system is at its most vulnerable. This is their cue to feed on any weakened turf, so be on the lookout for any yellow/brown patches. If you spot one, contact Luv-A-Lawn right away for a reliable lawn inspection!
Mitigate Chinch Bugs & Armyworms
For us, prevention is always better than cure. When it comes to Armyworms, keeping an eye out for the early signs of damage listed above is the best step to take this Summer, as they are much harder to eliminate once they’re fully grown. We also recommend managing your fertilizer use – using too much at the wrong time can attract them – so instead of rolling the dice, count on the pros here at Luv-A-Lawn for a reliable fertilization schedule.
As for Chinch Bugs – they’re always looking out for stressed turf. So, keep a healthy lawn by managing your irrigation distribution, not mowing too short, reducing thatch, and using a fertilizer with low levels of nitrogen. Their peak egg-laying season is between May and June – which is when we apply our state-of-the-art insecticide, to prevent any issues before they arise.
Luv-A-Lawn and Pest Control have been taking care of Central Florida pest control issues for more than 30 years. We are a Full-Service team and the “One Company that Does it All.”
