Fall webworms are a lawn pest which lives in turf and eats grass. In fact the adults don’t eat but its their young, small “caterpillar” larvae which do all the damage.
FALL WEBWORM DAMAGE
The adult fall webworm is a moth which likes to live it’s life in and around grass yards. Once impregnated, female fall webworms will move throughout the yard and as they land in different areas, they’ll lay eggs which fall into the thatch of the lawn.
During the course of summer these eggs hatch out small caterpillar like worms that feed on the blades of most any turf grass found in the United States. Typical damage will appear as if someone is cutting sections of the lawn. Unfortunately this “cutting” can be extremely low and cause a host of turf issues.
WEBWORM BIOLOGY
In early spring, adult moths hatch from overwintering pupae. These adults will mate and females will start dropping eggs.
Eggs will soon hatch in early summer and the hatching larvae will be quick to feed.
There are several fall webworm species in the United States. Most will appear as clear to green when young and then tan to green as they age and grow up. This process will take just a few weeks but the larvae will start small and thin; maybe 1/4″ to 1/2′ in length.
In a few weeks they will spin a pupae cocoon and hatch out into adults in just another couple of weeks. These adults will continue the webworm cycle by mating and laying eggs in the same areas. In the south, fall webworms can generate 3 generations a year. Up north there will be 1-2 cycles per season.
At the end of summer, the feeding, young fall webworm caterpillars will go dormant in their pupae stage and hibernate during the winter. They do this down in the soil and there they’ll stay till the following spring.
If left untreated, small population of fall webworms will grow annually until their impact will be noticeable one season. In the spring when they first emerge, it’s hard to see them but by late summer the damage they do will become noticeable as populations peak.
HOW TO TREAT FALL WEBWORMS
BIFEN GRANULES should be applied first by spreading them out over the turf at the rate of 25 lbs for every 20,000 sq/ft. Treatments should be made every 2 months during the warm season starting in early spring. These granules are slow to release and will filter down into the ground a few inches where they’ll control fall webworm larvae and pupae as they hatch. These same granules will also get late season fall webworm caterpillars making their way into the soil to hibernate effectively stopping the cycle.
BEST FALL WEBWORM SPRAYS
After applying the granules, spray over the top with CYONARA RTS. This active is highly active on a range of pests including fall webworms and will quickly kill off any active in the treated areas.
Use 1 quart of Cyonara per 20,000 sq/ft and apply it at least once a month during the active season. For the average 5,000-10,000 sq/ft yard, expect to use 1/4 to 1/2 of the jug per treatment. For active problems, treat every 2 weeks until the problem is gone. Typically this will take at least 2 applications spaced 2 weeks apart.
If you have a yard 20,000 sq/ft or more to treat, go with the super concentrated CYONARA. This form will prove a lot more economical to use.
The rate is .75 oz per 5,000 sq/ft which is about 6 oz per acre.
Use a good HOSE END SPRAYER to make the application. Our 20 Gallon Sprayer will require .75 oz of Cyonara and then enough water to fill the sprayer to the 5 gallon line. Next, you’ll hook it to your garden hose and spray the entire amount over 5,000 sq/ft. For 10,000 sq/ft, you’ll add 1.5 oz of concentrate and fill the line to the 10 gallon line (which is about half way up) and then apply that amount over 10,000 sq/ft.
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