Living in one of the most tropical states in the country has a lot of ups and downs. Warm beaches? I’d count those as an up. Twelve months of constant pest assault now that winter doesn’t get cold enough to kill them? Well, that’s a down. So today, let’s talk about a specific category of pest, the kind that goes into your lawn. We’ll touch on a few different species, what to look out for, how to identify an infestation, and when you should call a Brandon Lawn Exterminator.
Brandon Lawn Exterminator: overview
When you drive through many Florida neighborhoods, you’ll find plenty of thick, luscious lawns that usually have a lawn care sign by them. That’s because if you’re a homeowner in central Florida, keeping a lawn healthy and green takes a lot of care. And that’s mostly due to the number of lawn-destroying pests in the state, and what makes Florida lawns just so yummy to them. So, let’s get into some of the pests you can expect to see in Florida.
Chinch bugs
The southern chinch bug is one of the most common pests in the entire country. And when it comes to central Florida, they’re somehow even more common! Especially in the Tampa and Brandon areas. In fact, it’s the primary pest of any lawn that has St. Augustine grass. They’re tiny insects, but do tons of damage every year to Florida lawns. Millions of dollars worth!
Even among chinch bugs, the Florida variety is particularly destructive. They don’t just hit grassy lawns, either. They’re also an agricultural pest. They damage wheat, corn, oats, and like I said above, just about any kind of turf grass. Basically, if you see one of these guys you’ll need to get in contact with a Brandon lawn exterminator as soon as possible. Identification isn’t easy due to the small size of this bug, but you want to look out for distinct black, white, and red spotted coloration. Also, they’re only about eight to a fourth of an inch long and have hard bodies with wings that fold over their backs.
Most lawns in Florida have at least a small population of chinch bugs. But when their numbers explode due to overfertilized lawns or improper use of chemicals in your lawn, then it becomes a real problem. They feed on your grass and plants by injecting a toxin that prevents them from getting nutrients and moisture from the soil. This causes your lawn to turn yellow and die. The first sign of an infestation is usually circular patches of discolored and dead grass for this reason. These are usually in sunny and dry spots of the lawn as well.
Grub worms
Then we have another class of lawn destroyers, the grub worms. In the U.S. alone there is over one hundred species of this pest. Many of those species also love to reside on a Florida lawn! Most of the grubs in Florida belong to the scarab beetle, however. Though June bugs and Japanese beetles are not uncommon.
Beetle larvae are often called white grub worms because of their light coloration and c-shaped, wormy bodies. Most grubs have a brighter body and a darker brown head. All grub worms have three pairs of legs, which means they walk and burrow rather than crawl as a true bug does. Larvae range from three fourths of an inch to roughly an inch and a quarter in length. The beetle lifecycle varies from species to species.
Some insects have a one year lifespan, while others can tear up your lawn for four years running. The most destructive species live approximately three years and do tons of damage in the meantime. And unlike chinch bugs, these beetles really have no preference. They’ll infest just about any type of lawn grass. They hatch in groups of 15 to 20 larvae and immediately begin to consume the roots of nearby plants.
Feeding activity from this grub is usually not survivable for lawns and grass plants. They manifest as dead and dying patches on the surface of your lawn. Summer is also the peak of the grub season. This is when most lawns are established, and the roots are deep enough to provide plenty of cover for the grub worms.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an easy pest to single out. Even as adults, they rarely appear above the soil surface. That’s why all grub worm damage occurs at the root level. So look out for large patches of brown or dying grass.
Mole cricket
And finally on our list to make you call the Brandon lawn exterminator is the humble mole cricket. I’ll be honest with you guys, I didn’t really expect to find out that these are invasive species! But not only that, but they’re lawn destroyers! And particularly damaging to Florida lawns to boot.
Mole crickets arrived on U.S. soil in the late 1800s. Since then, they’ve firmly established themselves on the continent, especially in warm, southern regions. Central Florida is their favorite spot, so areas like Brandon, Oldsmar, Tampa, and everywhere between see plenty of damage from mole crickets.
These guys have no preference for grasses, much like the beetles above. They devour whatever grass plants they can find, and potentially do the same amount of damage as a chinch bug infestation!
All species of mole cricket thrive both above and below the soil. They’re active year round, and have no dormancy phase. The adults lay eggs underneath the soil in spring, and thankfully only have one generation a year. They’re nocturnal and remain in their holes and tunnels during the day. You’ll find them feeding on both grassroots and leaves, which is why they’re such a destructive pest species.
Florida Lawn Exterminator: What to do?
Lawn pests aren’t like finding a cockroach in the cupboard or seeing a line of ants on a windowsill. For the most part, pests that feed on lawns are fast reproducing and hard to find and can explode out of control if fertilizer and lawn chemicals are present. That’s why if you suspect an infestation, call us immediately at 1-800-634-1313 or visit our website for help.