How to Get Rid of Armyworms in Your Yard | The Family Handyman

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Subversive and tenacious, armyworm invaders devour everything in their path — including your lawn. Hither's how to mount a counterattack.

Armyworms are so named because they invade in large numbers like a battalion of plant-eating soldiers, leaving a path of backyard death and destruction behind them. These plump pests feed on turfgrass and create large chocolate-brown, dead patches scattered across your yard.

When yous spot armyworm moths and their larvae in your backyard, you need to act fast to caput off an infestation. "Armyworm moths can lay upwards to 2,000 eggs that hatch in ii or three days and at that place are usually effectually four to five generations per year," says Drew Wagner of Sod Solutions. This prolific reproduction, paired with the larvae'southward ravenous appetite, makes armyworms one of the most destructive backyard pests in North America.

Armyworms destroy grass by nibbling the blades downwardly to the nub. One time they accept devoured your backyard, they will move on to ornamental plants and flowers and even your vegetable patch. "They tin be found feeding on annual bedding plants, succulents, and even crops like abode-grown tomatoes," says Wagner.

The damage they crusade resembles that of sod webworms, a similar moth larvae backyard pest. "It's important to know the difference for proper treatment and prevention," Wagner says.

Here's a pace-by-pace guide on how to spot an armyworm invasion and get rid of these voracious troops before they conquer your lawn.

• What Are Armyworms?
• Types of Armyworms
• Signs of Armyworms
• How to Get Rid of Armyworms
• How to Prevent Armyworms From Coming Back

What Are Armyworms?

Armyworm caterpillars are the larvae of armyworm moths, and several species affect lawns across the U.S. Armyworm larvae typically mensurate 1-1/ii- to two inches long; vary in color from dark-green to brown or black; have dark-green, yellow, ruby or brown stripes down their sides and backs; and sport a distinctive inverted "Y" mark on their heads.

Adult armyworm moths are near one-1/ii-inches across. Their forewings are dark gray with lighter and darker splotches, and their hindwings are pale gray or white.

Types of Armyworms

The most common types of armyworms that damage lawns in the continental U.S. are:

• True or common armyworms: Found east of the Rocky Mountains, this species has a shine, light-green-chocolate-brown body, white stripes bordered with sparse orangish lines running along each side, four large dark spots on its underside and a yellowish-orangish head.

• Southern armyworms: Common in the Southern U.S., this armyworm has a dark green body, xanthous or white stripe running along its length and a brown-red head.

• Fall armyworms: This species (pictured above) features a pale dark-brown body with dark stripes running the length of both sides and a white upside-down "Y" mark on its head. "They are usually found throughout the months of July to October and outbreaks commonly occur after a heavy rainfall delivered by a tropical storm or hurricane," says Wagner.

• Beet worms: Originally from Asia, this species is found on all the continents except Antarctica. It is stake green with a dark head.

Signs of Armyworms

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Since armyworm moths lay so many eggs, an invasion can chop-chop go out of manus. It's of import to check for signs of armyworms regularly and intervene immediately if you spot clusters of eggs, caterpillar frass —moist light-green or yellow fecal pellets at the base of grass or plant leaves — or live armyworm moths or larvae. The larvae are most active in the early morning or evening.

"Yous'll know if yous have an armyworm infestation considering hundreds of larvae volition exist feeding in broad daylight," Wagner says.

Armyworm grubs attract birds, skunks and rodents that feed on the larvae, so large numbers of scavenging birds or scratched areas of lawn may betoken a plentiful armyworm population. You can likewise switch on a strong outdoor light at nighttime to cheque if whatever adult armyworm moths are attracted.

Pocket-size brownish lawn patches are another early clue of an armyworm problem. "If you lot see ragged chewed edges or 'skeletonizing' of a grass blade that creates a transparent 'windowpane await, this could be a sign of an armyworm infestation." Wagner says. Armyworm harm often appears outset virtually trees or buildings because adult moths usually lay eggs on tree bawl, outside building walls or near floodlights.

How to Get Rid of Armyworms

Armyworm larvae are most agile in the early forenoon and late evening. Whether you use a chemical insecticide or more than pollinator-friendly options, time your handling to coincide with action for maximum results.

"There are numerous effective insecticides you tin can apply to treat an armyworm invasion, including those containing bifenthrin, acephate, or chlorantraniliprole," says Wagner. Non-toxic options that won't damage other benign insects and pollinators are a meliorate option, even so. Here are the tiptop products and techniques:

• Bacillus thuringiensis (BT): This targeted bacterium volition paralyze the digestive system of an armyworm while leaving pollinators and birds untouched. In liquid course information technology tin be sprayed over infected plants.

• Pyrethrin: Pyrethroids are a blazon of natural pesticide made of crushed stale flowers and water that paralyzes armyworms on contact while leaving other insects lonely.

• Neem oil: Made from neem leaves extract, this natural pesticide controls armyworms without harmful chemicals.

• Diatomaceous world: The sharp particles in this dust are like crawling through tiny razor blades for armyworm grubs but are harmless to pollinators and wild animals.

• For a more limited invasion, you lot can remove armyworm larvae from their host plants past paw and drib them into a bucket of soapy water to kill them. Remove any affected plants from your garden (practise not compost) and wash gardening tools to reduce the spread of undetected eggs.

How to Prevent Armyworms From Coming Back

Lawn care best practices can keep armyworms from mounting a 2d set on. "Ever maintain adept cultural practices such equally mowing, reducing thatch and lightly irrigating your backyard," Wagner says. "Building a healthy backyard will help information technology withstand minor infestations of armyworms."

• Aerate your lawn annually. Add together about 1/4-inch of organic materials such as peat moss to eliminate thatch buildup, which can harbor armyworm grubs.

• Regularly water your lawn. Armyworms prefer turf that is dry and warm. "Nigh one inch of water a week including rainfall is plenty," explains Wagner. "A well-watered lawn makes the soil surface cooler and is less attractive to armyworms."

• Cutting your grass no shorter than two inches and go along weeds and wild grasses to a minimum.

• Fertilize. "Although fertilizer doesn't treat infestations, a proper fertilizer schedule volition help your lawn remain strong and endure stress a fiddling amend," Wagner says.

• Check for armyworm moths and grubs regularly. The earlier yous catch an infestation, the easier it is to treat.

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