Insect Control

Grub Problems in Lawns

White grubs are the most serious and destructive lawn insect pest in Michigan. While not all lawns will get grubs and the extent of grub damage varies from year to year, there are some important points to consider concerning managing grubs in lawns. Grubs are white in color, with a characteristic "C" shape body when found in the soil feeding on lawn roots. Grubs are the larval stage of beetles.

The most common grub species in our area is the annual white grub, of which the adult is a tan chafer beetle. Eggs are laid in the soil in mid-summer, primarily on well-watered lawns in full sun, often near pavement. Damage from annual white grubs typically starts in mid August and may continue until early October. The true white grub (May or June beetle), for example, typically has a three-year life cycle, meaning it could potentially damage lawns throughout the season. Japanese beetle grubs can also occur in the area, with timing very similar to annual white grub. Adult Japanese beetles are serious defoliators of many ornamental plants.

Surface Feeding Insects

Sod Webworms are night-flying moths as adults and greenish-tan caterpillars with black spots in their infancy. The moths are different then others do to their zigzag flying motion above your lawn at night. But the most damage done is when they are caterpillars eating at the grass stems and creating brown patches in your lawn. At first glance, the damaged areas may resemble the rest of the dormant lawn, but after rainfall, the chewed areas will remain brown. The best control for sod webworms are beneficial insects that prey on them. In addition, proper lawn fertilization, mowing and watering will often mask symptoms and eventually correct the damage.

Chinch bugs very small bugs (usually 1/3 inch or less in length) that are red in appearance when young, and black with white wings along their backs when grown. Chinch Bugs feed on grass blades by sucking-out the juices and drying out the grass. The most common signs of Chinch Bug infestation is the appearance of yellow colored patches that eventually turn brown and die. Turf damaged by chinch bugs often appears dry, but won't recover from rain or irrigation. What initially looks like irregular, small patches of stressed grass will grow larger as the damage progresses.

We will treat for surface feeding insects on an as needed basis at no charge to the customer.

Insect Control Practices

With an estimated 40 million insects in a typical acre, it's impossible to completely eradicate them. And that's good, as most insects are considered beneficial because they eat other harmful insects and provide food for birds and other animals. Therefore, identifying turf-damaging insects and controlling them selectively is the best strategy.

Most insects only damage grass at certain points during their life cycle. Once the pest has been identified, the best approach is to control it at the insect's most susceptible life stage, which is usually during the immature or larval stage.