We know that insects are not the most beloved companions in Fort Worth lawns.
Some insects, like ladybugs, are quite welcomed, butterflies are nice to see, and praying Mantises are very peculiar creatures that wander in Texas gardens.
Other insects don’t have that luck, and they cause fear. Some species of ants, wasps, and spiders (though spiders are not insects, but are frequently paired with them) have a bad reputation, and their appearance doesn’t help at all.
But do all insects deserve to be feared and suffer under a flip-flop or an insecticide?
In our years of providing Fort Worth lawn insect treatments, we know that some insects are just annoying with their presence, like mosquitoes.
However, other bugs are less noticeable and yet can cause terrible damage to your lawn. Those are the ones you should be worried about.
Lawn insect treatments encompass identifying pests correctly, preventing infestations, and effectively eliminating them to protect your lawn from damage.
In this post, Purple Care experts in Fort Worth lawn insect treatments outline some of the most common bugs in the area and how to prevent them from infesting your garden.
Common Lawn Insects in Fort Worth and How To Identify Them
There are several types of insects in lawns, and while some of them are just exasperating, others lead to lawn problems.
Let’s see which are the most common invaders you can find in your backyard:
1. Lawn Grubs
Among our list of “most wanted” lawn pests, lawn grubs are the N°1 enemies of your grass.
Grubs are little white worms, the larvae of beetles such as the June beetle or Japanese beetles, among others.
These bugs lay their eggs on the soil in Texas in early summer, and when fall arrives, the eggs hatch and the larvae come out. The first thing they do? Feast on your grass roots.
When grubs eat the roots, the grass wilts, causing horrible brown patches in your yard. As these pests live under the surface, you’ll have to dig a little bit to find them.
2. Fire Ants
If you see reddish little ants with a bad attitude in your garden, you probably have fire ants.
But be careful, because fire ants, though small, are very aggressive creatures that bite and inject a dangerous venom. In heavily infested areas, around a third of the population suffers from Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA) bites per year.
Their stings can cause severe reactions like a burning sensation and the formation of white pustules. Some individuals are allergic to their venom and might need medical assistance.
Apart from being little bullies, ants create underground tunnels, which can disrupt the root systems of grass. Their earth bumps are also not the best decor for your grass, and they can be a problem when mowing.
You can read more on our post to know how to tell fire ants from other ants for effective recognition.
3. Armyworms
Armyworms are not worms, but caterpillars. These guys are moth larvae, with the Fall armyworm being the most common we’ve seen in Texas lawns.
You might see the adult moths flying around at night, especially if you have outdoor lights. Before turning into moths, the caterpillars eat grass and plant blades, and they eat at an incredibly fast pace, being able to destroy lawns quickly.
The reason behind their name? Armyworms move in huge numbers (and eat up your grass like a real army).
Armyworms in North Texas are more frequent in late summer, when temperatures are still high.
4. Mosquitoes
These ones don’t need an introduction. Mosquitoes do not pose a problem for your grass, but they are annoying for you and your pets.
Texas is home to approximately 85 species of mosquitoes. These little vampires originate in standing water, which can remain when watering plants inadequately or due to poor drainage.
Mosquitoes can turn your yard into an unwanted place quite suddenly. Their buzzing? More like the Apocalypse trumpets.
Mosquito season in Texas usually starts in May, with the arrival of warm temperatures and rain.
5. Chinch Bugs
Chinch bugs are lawn destroyers per excellence.
These insects eat your grass and plant blades by extracting the sap from their interior, which causes the grass to turn yellow or brown.
You can identify Chinch Bugs by their black or brown color and the white X on their backs, though there are many species in the US.
6. Fleas
Have you seen your pets scratching more frequently? It might be because of fleas.
Fleas don’t harm grasses or plants, but they can hide there until your dog or cat appears and jumps onto your furry companion, transmitting diseases, hair loss, and red bumps.
Grass treatments for fleas are extremely necessary to prevent these creatures from proliferating in your garden.
The Importance of Lawn Maintenance in Preventing Bugs
To avoid dealing with bug infestations, prevention is key, and lawn maintenance plays an important role in keeping lawn insects away.
Appropriate lawn care techniques promote healthy grass growth and prevent providing insects a good place to reproduce and eat.
To avoid grass-eating insects, make sure to follow these lawn care best practices:
- Don’t Mow Short: Sometimes homeowners cut their grass too short, leaving the lawn unprotected. Mow your grass at 3 or 4 inches to keep it from becoming vulnerable to pests and diseases.
- Aerate the Soil: Aeration promotes nutrient and water absorption. It’s ideal for Fort Worth soils that tend to get compacted. This way, you improve water drainage and soil quality.
- Water Mindfully: Water accumulation promotes the appearance of bugs, especially mosquitoes. When watering, make sure to provide enough water for the lawn to absorb it. Eliminate any empty flowerpots or cans where water can stagnate.
- Dethatch: The formation of thatch (a mix of dead organic matter) is beneficial for bugs like grubs, but can prevent water and nutrient absorption. Remove thatch from warm-season grasses in summer and from cool-season grasses in fall.
- Apply Fertilizers Carefully: Fertilizing nourishes the soil and helps discourage pests. Do not fertilize excessively to avoid damaging the grass.
Preventing lawn insects is the basis of our Fort Worth lawn insect treatments.
As an experienced lawn care company, we provide lawn maintenance and insect control services in the Fort Worth area to help you grow a healthy and strong grass that naturally resists pests and diseases.
The Problem With DIY Lawn Insect Control
Homeowners often try to deal with lawn insects on their own. However, DIY insect control might not be effective for several reasons:
1) Incorrect Identification: Brown patches or dead grass don’t necessarily equal bugs. Fungi, drought stress, or foot traffic can affect your grass, too. Failing to assess the problem can lead to the incorrect use of products, exacerbating lawn problems.
2) Dangerous Chemicals: Using pesticides without protective measures can be a risk for your family’s health, your pets, and you.
3) Contamination: Chemicals in pesticides are harmful to the environment and to other animals and beneficial insects in your yard.
4) Lack of Knowledge: When you don’t know insects’ habits, reproductive cycles, and other details, it can be difficult to exterminate them. For example, did you know that red imported fire ants can have multiple queens? That makes them more difficult to eliminate.
5) Household products: Using household products like dish soap or vinegar and other “natural” pest deterrents might only address insects for a short time or just on the surface. These products can also damage your soil and grass in the long run, and fail to eradicate pests completely.
Controlling Lawn Insect Infestations in Fort Worth
Dealing with lawn insects is not an easy task. Identifying bug damage can be tricky sometimes, and correct identification is the key to selecting the best insect control treatment.
At Purple Care, we are a specialized company providing lawn care services in Fort Worth, TX, and surrounding areas.
Our insect control professionals know how to identify which type of problem you have and design an effective treatment to get rid of insects. We are ready to manage fire ant infestations, grub problems, armyworm destruction, and more.
But that’s not all.
Our lawn care services also aim to improve your soil health, promote the growth of healthy grass that naturally resists pests and diseases, with the use of eco-friendly products, and achieve long-term results.
If you want to stop worrying about lawn insects and protect your grass, contact Purple Care and get Fort Worth lawn insect treatments tailored to your grass needs.
