Lawn Pests to Look for – What to do

While you might be doing everything that your commercial lawn needs to look its best, pests can come in and ruin that effort almost overnight. Lawn pests are a major source of frustration for property managers and owners as they can be highly destructive but not always noticeable right away.

While there are a number of lawn pests that can be a problem in the Dallas, Texas area, here are 4 in particular that should be on your radar.

1. Grubs

Grubs are a lawn pest found beneath the soil where they, unfortunately, feed on grassroots. These white, c-shaped creatures are actually the larvae of beetles. Although a handful of grubs is not a problem, they can do serious damage in large numbers. When grubs feed on your lawn roots this can cause brown patches. In worst case scenarios, where grubs have eaten enough of the roots, your lawn could actually start to lift up in areas—as it’s no longer attached to the soil. If you notice grass pulling up, this could be a sign that you have grub damage beneath the surface.

2. Chinch Bugs

Unlike grubs which feed beneath the surface, chinch bugs are surface feeding insects that actually consume the grass itself. More specifically, they are sucking out its plant fluids. This can cause lawns to turn yellow, then brown, and die. Because chinch bugs can be difficult to spot since they are so small (and good at hiding), you may notice their damage before you ever see them.

3. Bermuda Mites

Another frustrating Dallas-area pest is the Bermuda mite. These are mites that are commonly found in bermudagrass. It is incredibly tiny (adults are only 0.006 to 0.008 inch long) but surprisingly destructive. With Bermuda mite damage you’ll likely notice something called “witch’s broom” where the grass starts to look frayed like the end of a broom. This is caused by the grass’ response to mites sucking on its fluids. 

4. Ants

Besides fire ants, ants in general are not considered a “dangerous” pest. However, they can be destructive to your lawn as a result of their construction of unsightly ant hills. These mounds can ultimately damage your lawn—not to mention pose a foot hazard to travelers and mower blades. Ant mounds can destroy your lawn by damaging its roots and causing brown spots. Ant infestations are also unpleasant as nobody likes the thought of being swarmed by ants when walking through the lawn.

How to Handle Lawn Pests

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with lawn pests. Different pests are going to require different solutions. That’s why it’s important that you are working with a professional who can identify the problem that you’re dealing with and implement the best treatment.

Ants, for example, are treated with a granular or powder application. Other insects are treated with a spray application. Different products are targeted to work on specific pests.

Once we know which insects are a problem at your property, we can also institute an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. This consists of introducing “good” insects into the area that will feed on the “bad” insects.

No matter what pests you might be dealing with—we can help you find a solution that will work. This will protect your lawn while also giving you peace of mind that you’re in good hands.