Pests That Ruin Lawns

White Grubs

• White grubs are the larvae of scarab beetles. These insects damage lawns by eating up the root systems. In fact, damage can be so severe that gardeners can roll up their turf as if it were carpeting. To test for white grubs in the yard, cut out a one square foot of turf. Sift through the grass and dirt for white grubs. If there are more than 10 grubs per square foot area, apply a pesticide that contains imidacloprid in the late summer months. If there are fewer than 10 grubs per square foot, withhold water in the late summer to dry out scarab beetle eggs.

Leafhoppers

• Leafhoppers are easily spotted hopping within the yard. These insects are brightly colored and have stripes running down their wedge-shaped bodies, according to the University of Delaware. These pests damage lawns by sucking out the sap from grass blades. Grass suffers from chlorosis, or malnutrition, from their damage. You may see grass blades turn white or yellow. To prevent leafhoppers damaging more areas of your lawn, use a pesticide that contains clothianidin to treat these pests.

Chinch Bugs

• Chinch bugs are the most serious and difficult-to-control pest, according to the University of Delaware. These pests overwinter in surrounding weeds and migrate over to lawns in the spring to lay eggs. Moreover, chinch bugs inject a toxin when they feed off of grass which causes the blade to die, according to the University of Pennsylvania. Gardeners may find, depending on their chinch bug infestation, that parts of the lawn have died or the entire lawn is ruined from their damage. Use a pesticide in the late summer that contains chlorpyrifos, as suggested by Florida Turf.

Sod Webworms

• Sod webworms cause grass to look unevenly cropped, according to the University of Delaware. Later, grass turns brown and dies off. Find out if you have a sod worm infestation by pouring a gallon of water mixed with a 1/4 cup of detergent over one square foot of lawn space. Wait to see if sod webworm larvae pop up from the soil. Kill off sod webworms by using a pesticide that contains carbaryl in the early evening before sod webworms feed.