Armyworms in Texas can be a major source of frustration. When these pests march into your lawn, you have good reason to worry.
That’s because they can be highly destructive in little to no time at all. Armyworm infestations typically occur in large numbers and unfortunately, their presence often goes unnoticed until the damage is severe.
That’s why understanding how to identify Armyworms in grass can be critical information. Even better, you’ll want to make an effort to focus on Armyworm prevention so that you never have to worry about these pests in the first place.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you ought to know.
Jump to:
Armyworms are the larvae of moths. The “Fall Armyworm” is the most common here in North Texas.
The full-grown larvae of Armyworms are substantial in size—between 1.5 and 2 inches long. These pests are light green or tan in their early growth stage and dark green or brown in later stages. They also have a distinct, darker “Y” near their head.
Though they are quite distinguishable, they tend to be good hiders, often tucked away in the thatch layer of grass, so they’re not that easy to find if you’re not actively looking for them.
Armyworms get their name from the fact that they stick together in large groups, like an army. Unfortunately, this makes them even more powerful as they can do serious damage in large numbers.
While they have the word “worm” in their name, they are actually caterpillars. Armyworms in Texas move swiftly, munching as they go. As the larvae eat all available food sources, they migrate as an army to new host plants—primarily grasses. They can move through a lawn in a matter of days.
Armyworms in Texas tend to be most active from summer through early fall….typically June through November.
We see Armyworms in lawns pop up every year for many North Texas homeowners.
While you might be lucky and avoid these pests, you really never know when they’re going to impact your property. And when they do show up, they can be highly destructive in a short amount of time. For that reason, a lot of homeowners want a preventative solution that will keep these pests away.
Since Armyworms are relatively large, it’s definitely possible to spot this pest on your own. But as we mentioned, Armyworms in the lawn do tend to hide (especially during the day). Armyworms in grass tend to come out and feed at night.
For that reason, you might notice other signs of Armyworms (including damage) before ever noticing the pests themselves. It is important to be watchful of these things in order to spot a problem as quickly as possible.
One clue that you may have Armyworms in the grass is an increased presence of birds. Birds will eat the caterpillars, but they won’t get enough of them to make your lawn healthy again.
Another sign of a Texas Armyworm problem is brown patches in the lawn. These brown areas typically appear along the perimeter of the lawn (ahead of the center), as the Armyworms work their way in. Upon close inspection, you can see that the grass blades actually appear chewed on or torn.
The hope is to spot these brown patches early considering the fact that Armyworms do move so quickly.
For that reason, any time you spot brown patches, it’s worth a closer inspection. Get down on your hands and knees and look at the thatch layer, which is where Armyworms tend to hang out. Brown patches can obviously be caused by other lawn problems (including drought, disease, and other pests, like grubs). It’s important to get to the bottom of what’s going on.
While it’s gross, sometimes homeowners also notice Armyworm droppings, also called “Frass.” Frass is moist and green goop that gets left behind as Armyworms in Texas feast on your lawn.
As we’ve mentioned, homeowners often prefer to focus on Armyworm prevention so that they never have to worry about these pests.
At Grassperson, we offer a guaranteed, preventative solution to Armyworms using a preventative product. People find great peace of mind and value in the fact that they don’t have to worry about watching for Armyworms (or their damage). Instead, they can just rest assured they are protected.
And if there is breakthrough due to a heavy infestation, we’ll use a curative product (at no-charge) on any Armyworms that aren’t addressed with our prevention plan. It takes all the burden and guesswork away from you.
If you don’t have a preventative plan, the key is early detection. If you don’t spot a problem early on, you may give armyworms too much time to feast upon your lawn. This can lead to severe damage.
Armyworms are surface feeding insects and can be controlled by insecticides when identified.
We have a proactive program focused on preventing Armyworms in the lawn with a specialized product.
If you’re not on this program, you can help prevent Armyworm damage from being severe by maintaining a healthy lawn that won’t be completely ravaged by these pests. As with any problem, your lawn will fare better if it’s already thick and healthy. A lawn that is thin and struggling is going to be hit harder and the damage is going to be a lot more noticeable.
There’s no question that Armyworms are a formidable foe. But it’s certainly possible that you can win the battle against them. Working with a lawn care company that has a watchful eye on your property can be an essential ally in this fight.
One important step that a lawn care professional can take is properly identifying the pest that you’re dealing with.
Damage from other pests can sometimes mimic damage from Armyworms in grass. But a skilled lawn care technician will know what to look for.
That being said, at Grassperson, we do recognize that problems can arise in between our scheduled lawn care visits. Even though we’re always looking for the first signs of a problem when on your property, given how fast Armyworms move, we also encourage you to call us at the first sign of trouble.
We are always encouraging homeowners to keep the lines of communication open with us. That goes two ways. We’ll tell you when we spot trouble but we also always want to hear if there’s something you’re seeing.
With successful Armyworm control, timing is key. We want to help get the right treatment under way quickly so that we can eradicate the problem before it becomes too serious.
Of course, there may be areas of the lawn that have already been damaged. We understand that brown patches are unsightly and highly frustrating. But Grassperson can help repair those damaged areas to help get your lawn back to looking its best.
The bottom line?
You don’t have to let Armyworms win.
By partnering with Grassperson, you’ll have a professional that will always be looking out for your best interest. We’ll get your Armyworm problem under control and help get your lawn back to looking the best on the block.
Want to stop worrying about the risk of lawn pests and other lawn-destroying problems at your home in Flower Mound, Highland Village, Lewisville or surrounding areas? Get a Free Quote, then you can enjoy the best lawn on the block!
Image sources: armyworm, armyworm on leaf