Army Worms attacking Superior lawns, crops

I have received numerous reports of fall armyworm damage from the Kansas-Nebraska state line north to York. Damage is occurring in new alfalfa seedings in addition to established alfalfa, a new triticale seeding and several lawns. With moths still being observed, we may see fall armyworms around for a few weeks yet, so it would be wise to be watching alfalfa, wheat, rye, triticale and lawns for them. There’s no good way of knowing where they’ll appear; it’s all based on where the moth chooses to lay her eggs. There are everal reports of one field affected while the field next to it is fine. Same with lawns.

Egg masses are fuzzy white masses that can include up to 200 caterpillars and the eggs can hatch in 2 to 5 days. Newly hatched larvae will be thin and often black and gray in color.

In town, if you find the egg masses on lawn furniture, siding, or garden features, simply wipe them up with paper towel and discard in the garbage. They’re far easier to control when the larvae are 3⁄4 inch or less. When they get larger than this, insecticides aren’t as effective, and usually, by that time, so much damage has occurred that the area will need reseeded.

Products with active ingredients such as bifenthrin or permethrin are effective and are options for both farmers for fields and also homeowners with lawns. Sevin is also an option for both.

Kentucky bluegrass lawns may be able to recover from rhizomes regrowing in the spring. However, fescue and ryegrass will need intervention this fall for reseeding. An organic insecticide option is Dipel which will take a little longer to work, but is still effective on smaller larvae.

For lawn situations, it’s important to water the insecticide product in the ground to get the granules off the leaf blades and into the soil.

I have had several reports about large white grubs on concrete stairs, sidewalks and driveways. They are really large, up to 1.5 inches. What’s interesting about them is they crawl on

their backs! These are grub larvae of the green June beetle which is a large beetle that often sounds like it’s ‘buzzing’ during June and July.

The adult beetle can cause damage to ripening fruits such as stone fruits and berries. However, the grub larvae are not a major turf pest, unlike other grub species. They feed on thatch layers and organic matter, but don’t really attack lawn roots. They make holes in the soil, so rain and irrigation will drive them out onto concrete.