moths flying around my lawn

(Question)

Hi,
Last year I noticed that I have sodworm infestation on my lawn. Therefore, this year in May, I put in sodworm nematodes and in June I applied BTK， then in mid July I applied insecticide. Now the end of August, I still have moth flying around my lawn. I just applied another dose of insecticide on my lawn. What else I can do to eliminate of sodworm infestation? Thanks for your help!

(Answer)

Sod webworm can be a scourge to your lawn but you can certainly diminish, if not entirely eradicate, its presence.  The life cycle of this pest is short and therefore you can have several generations in one season with the final stage of the year being larval overwintering just below the soil surface or in thatch left behind after mowing.  There are several things you can do to help your situation, see below:

  1. Reduce thatch by raking well and disposing of debris, do not place in a home composter.  This should be done several times during the growing season to help eliminate larval homes.
  2. Water the lawn regularly to maintain grass health and reduce drought stress.
  3. Fertilize the lawn three times during the growing season beginning in spring.
  4. Nematode application should be done several times to coincide with the larval stage of each generation.  Water the lawn well the day before each application, time application for when the weather is overcast/cloudy, and then water the lawn again directly following each application.  Follow the mixing instructions carefully.
  5. BtK is an effective control for sod webworms.  Apply the spray when you first see signs of damage and then repeat the treatment at 5-7 day intervals. Follow the mixing instructions carefully.
  6. Insecticidal soap works well on heavily infested areas.  Apply every 7-10 days and again, follow the package mixing instructions carefully if you are using a concentrated form.
  7. Pheromone lures/traps can be effective in breaking the reproductive cycle, luring the moths, with scent, into a trap so that mating is disrupted.  Several of the traps need to be strategically placed around your garden away from the lawn in order to be helpful.

I hope some of these strategies work for you.  From my experience, it takes more than one approach working together, along with persistence, to combat this pest.

August 26, 2021