Billbugs
Billbugs are the larvae of a beetle that feed on the roots of the plant (lawn) causing the top to die off. Our trained state certified technicians can eliminate the stress on your lawn that is caused by these destructive insects.
More info: Billbugs are among the most misdiagnosed pest of turfgrass, affecting bluegrass from late June to early August. Many turf managers confuse billbug damage with symptoms of drought stress, diseases such as summer patch, dollar spot or injury from white grubs. Adult billbugs feed by chewing holes in grass stems but adults only cause minor damage compared to the larvae.
Mature larvae are about 3/8” and cream colored with a brown/copper head.
SYMPTOMS
Gradual thinning, yellowing, wilting in spite of adequate soil moisture, and appearance of scattered irregular dead patches. If billbugs are left untreated females can lay five eggs per day and spots will increase in size and eventually join together to create one large spot. The following year the infestation will usually be more severe. Soil remains firm, not spongy under foot as with white grub infestations.
TREATMENT
Prevention
Reducing drought stress and regular fertilization will increase the vigor of the lawn which will aid in withstanding a grub infestation.
We can schedule a grub prevention treatment in April – May depending upon the temperatures and other environmental factors. Schedule your treatment early to ensure it is done at the most effective time for that particular season.
Curative
Treatment can be done anytime grubs are present in the lawn. In order to minimize the damage caused by these pests, early detection is essential. If you suspect that your lawn may have sod webworms in it, do not hesitate to contact us. We will have a certified technician come out and diagnose the problemand suggest a solution. After treatment, affected grubs usually take several days to show a decline, turning a yellow or brown color. If after a couple of weeks you do not see improvement, please call us. If population was high, a re-treatment may be necessary.
If insects are eliminated early, damage will be limited and your lawn will likely recover quickly. If the damage is extensive, your lawn may take longer to recover. The lawn can be repaired three ways:
- Patience and time.
- Rake through thatch not removing it but fluffing it up, then over seed with a variety identical to the rest of the lawn (most lawns in our area are “Kentucky Bluegrass”). Sprinkle with water and maintain moisture in seeds until germination (2-4 weeks depending on time of year). Give your lawn a little TLC until it’s healthy again.
- Cut out dead areas and replace with sod. Keep sod moist for two weeks or until the roots hold turf firmly.
If you have had problems with grubs in the past a preventative treatment in the springtime is recommended the following season.