Brandon Lawn Pests

There are plenty of perks to living down south in Florida. The weather, the sun, the beaches. But with all, that wild and natural beauty comes a few downsides. One of those premiere downsides? The bugs! That goes double for pests that feast on lawns. And now that we’re in the winter time when everything is dormant, you better get to prepare. That’s why today we’re going to talk about Brandon lawn pests.

Brandon Lawn Pests: overview

When it comes to pest control, information is your most potent weapon. So let’s touch base on some of the worst lawn pests you’ll find in central Florida.

Fall Armyworm

Native to the tropical regions of the Americas, it normally overwinters in the United States only down here in Florida. The fall armyworm is the larvae of a moth that is a strong flier, and disperses long distances over the summer months every year. These Brandon lawn pests have been recorded from virtually all states east of the Rockies. However, as a serious lawn pest, it’s range is mostly within the Southeastern United States. This species is a parasite for a wide range of host plants. Over eighty plants have been recorded being consumed by the fall armyworm, but it clearly prefers grasses. The most frequently consumed plants are field corn, sweet corn, sorghum, Bermudagrass, and grass weeds such as crabgrass and Digitaria spp. When the larvae are very numerous, they defoliate the preferred plants, acquire an “armyworm” habit, and disperse in large numbers, consuming nearly all vegetation in their path. Many host records reflect such periods of abundance and are not truly indicative of oviposition and feeding behavior under normal conditions.

There is some evidence that falls armyworm strains exist, based primarily on their host plant preference, with strains preferring different hosts. Larvae cause damage by consuming foliage. Young larvae initially consume leaf tissue from one side, leaving the opposite epidermal layer intact. By the second or third instar, larvae begin to make holes in leaves and eat from the edge of the leaves inward. Feeding in the whorl

Mole Crickets

Invasive mole crickets are serious plant pests all over the state of Florida. These insects can do real serious damage to any species of grass. That also goes for pastures, forage crops, and vegetables. Mole crickets are a unique family of crickets that spend their lives underground and have modified digging spade-like appendages that help them tunnel through the soil.

These pests are common throughout Florida and the entire southeastern U.S. These Brandon lawn pest tunnel through the soil close to the surface. This action causes the severing of grass roots and causes the lawn to bulge upwards. They also eat the roots and shoots of plants in the path of their tunnels, most commonly consuming grasses.

Mole cricket tunneling and damage tends to look like patches of dying grass which tend to get replaced by weeds. Predators of the mole cricket can be another sign of infestation. Raccoons, armadillos, birds, and possums may be seen digging up infested yards.

Mole crickets are active year-round in Florida, but do the most damage during spring (March through June) or fall (late August to early October) when they are primarily adults. Mole crickets have one generation per year, with eggs typically being laid in April and May. Not only can mole crickets tunnel through the soil, but the adults can also fly long distances. In fact, an adult male mole cricket will sit at the entrance to his tunnel and call for adult females, who fly in to find him. Mole crickets are nocturnal, which means they are actively calling, tunneling, and flying at night.

Chinch Bugs

Ever seen tiny black insects in your grass? If so, they might have been chinch bugs. And these Brandon lawn pests are some of the worst because they just love to chow down on some grass. Chinch bugs are tiny little black insects commonly found in lawns and gardens throughout North America. There are several different types of chinch bugs, including the common chinch bug, the hairy chinch bug, the southern chinch bug, and the western chinch bug. The southern chinch bug is dark red, brown, or black in coloration with two distinctive white spots on its back. Good luck making them out with the naked eye, though, as a dozen adults can fit on top of a simple dime!

In the southeast, the southern chinch bug is a problem for residential and commercial lawns. The hairy chinch bug is a larger issue in the midwest. Most of this article will discuss the southern chinch bug, which can be found throughout the southeastern United States and some areas of California.

Brandon Lawn Pests: Control tips

As you can see, lawn pests are quite the issue in the sunshine state. From chewing your grass to bits, to leaving behind mounds of dirt. So let’s touch on a few things you can do to keep your lawn from getting destroyed by these voracious pests.

The first and most obvious tip is to mow correctly and regularly. Leaving your grass too tall makes it shelter for certain species of pests, and mowing it too short leaves it damaged and venerable to others. Keeping your lawn at a regular length is a great first step to protecting it.

Also, don’t over fertilize. Not only has over fertilization of lawns and crops led to red tide issues in Florida, it just makes those plants all the more attractive to pests. Overly nitrogen rich plants aren’t just delicious but can have compromised immune systems that lead to pest infestations coming more quickly to the plants.

And finally, if you have a genuine lawn infestation, make sure to contact a pest control company as soon as you can. Most of these pests are widespread, fast reproducing insects. Contact us at 1-800-634-1313 or visit us at insectfree.com to set up a consultation and deal with the bugs in your lawn before it becomes a moundy, patchy mess.

“We firmly believe in the protection of the environment

and are particularly concerned about our family’s and pets’ exposure to toxic substances used in traditional pest control methods, particularly since our 10-year-old daughter developed allergies and asthma. We are very pleased to find a company that deals with this problem without the use of chemical spray. Earth’s Best has treated our home and lawn with care and diligence. We encourage everyone in need of pest control to use Earth’s Best with their alternative approach to pest management.”-The Rosenberg’s, Land O’Lakes

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