If you’re a homeowner, you know how hard it is to keep your lawn healthy. If you’re a Florida homeowner, you know twice the normal amount of headaches that come with that. And when it’s not raining cats and dogs and flooding your lawn, then it’s beating on it with hundred-degree temperatures. On top of all that, Tampa lawn pests are not something you want to deal with. That’s why today we’ll discuss them, how to identify them, and what to do if they’re in your lawn.
Tampa Lawn Pests: Overview
We all know how important a healthy lawn is. A nice, green bit of turf with some nice trees and flowers is the perfect addition to any home. Not only that but healthy lawns and gardens increase your property values. They also reduce soil erosion, filter stormwater runoff, cools your air, and generally keep things running well around your garden.
But as I mentioned above, keeping a beautiful lawn is a lot easier said than done. And the closer you get to the equator, the more true that becomes. Especially when you add the new Florida culture of absolutely dousing lawns with chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers. Improper use and overuse of these substances make for a surprisingly obliging playground for pests. And Tampa lawn pests are a huge issue in the area. So, let’s go ahead and break down some of these problem individuals bug by bug.
Mole Crickets
To start off, let’s begin with one of the most visually shocking lawn pests. If you see tunneling damage throughout your lawn, you may just have a mole cricket issue on your hands. A serious problem across the entire southeast, mole crickets tunnel through roots and chew on tender shoots of grass and other plant leaves. A few separate species make our state their home as well.
First, we have the tawny mole cricket. The largest and most robust of the three species, tawny crickets are tan-colored and nearly two inches in length as adults. Then you have the Southern mole cricket, which is dark brown to nearly black. They have four light-colored dots on top of their head, and are slightly smaller than the tawny species; averaging about one to one and a half inches long. Finally, the short-winged mole cricket. While the same size as the southern species, they’re more of a reddish-brown color, with smaller wings.
All members of this species are very powerful tunnels. They have large, shovel-like front legs that resemble those of moles and other burrowing creatures. Mole crickets tunnel so intensely that they can even dislodge plants from the soil as they pass. You can test your lawn for this pest by pouring a mixture of water and detergent on a small section of your grass. This should drive them to the surface and let you know if they’re there.
Armyworms
Up next we have the voracious armyworms. And not just any armyworms, but southern armyworms. This group of Tampa lawn pests is one of the largest species of armyworm and is often referred to as the climbing cutworm. When fully grown, these pests can be nearly two inches in length. Their heads have a yellow tint, and their bodies are anywhere from tan to pink in color. These pests prey heavily on beets, cabbage, carrots, etc. Essentially, anything from citrus to tobacco, to vegetables, to your lawn. If it has calories, there’s a good chance that armyworms can eat it.
Fall Armyworms, specifically
We have the fall armyworm as well, who is just about to become a homeowner’s worse nightmare at this time of year. The fall armyworm has a black or brown head and is usually either gray or green in coloration. You can tell this species apart by the distinct inverted “v” shape on its head casing. The preferred source of food for this pest is grasses, which makes them the most common armyworm people have infestation problems with. And trust me, this is one of the most intimidating Tampa lawn pests you’ll ever have to deal with.
This species lays dome-shaped eggs that are tiny, roughly 0.3 millimeters across. The females will lay one to two hundred eggs at a time when reproducing. The larva is very worm-like in appearance and changes drastically as they grow. In fact, most of the damage from this pest comes in the last four days of its life cycle like an actual worm. They’ll wake up, eat your grass, burrow under it, and re-emerge as a small, grey moth to reproduce elsewhere. Unfortunately, this pest is a very efficient lawn destroyer, and it’s best to find them before lawn damage begins to appear. Their life cycle is so short that once that four-day window begins, it’s going to be nearly impossible to stop them all in time to save your lawn.
Tampa Lawn Pests: The Infamous White Grub
While the armyworms above may be the most voracious and damaging of these pests, you’re more likely to encounter some of what we’re about to talk about instead. Lawn grubs are the early larval stages of scarab beetles. In Florida, it’s usually the June beetle if anything. These grubs feed on the roots of all turfgrass species and live at or just below the soil-thatch interface. All white grubs rest in a curled c-shape and are half an inch to two inches in length.
The first sign of white grub infestations is the yellowing of your grass. In fact, your entire lawn may start to slowly change colors. The patches of grass will grow thin and weak over time when an infestation is present. White grubs feed on roots; therefore, the grass patches will easily come up when pulled. Various plants may appear to be damaged as well.
Another sign of a white grub infestation would be the presence of beetles throughout outdoor areas. Adult beetles are the product of budding white grub larvae. If you see more signs of birds, lizards, or frogs in your yard, they may be feasting on the grubs or beetles that are taking over.
