Many
homeowners pick up the phone to call their lawn experts as soon as
they see insects hovering over or crawling in the grass of their new
sod lawn. Such vigilance is well-warranted. If pests such as aphids
or caterpillars take over your lawn, they can cause damage. However,
not all insects are pests.
In
fact, many of the detrimental insects have natural predators that eat
them — and these insects are beneficial for your yard. Find out
about both types and what they can do to your newly sodded lawn and
surrounding landscaping.
Detrimental
Insects
Typically,
detrimental insects are those that thrive on the grass that makes up
your sodded lawn or the surrounding plants. Left unchecked, they can
destroy your landscaping.
Aphids
Aphids
are tiny, clear-green insects that latch onto the stalk of plants,
including sod grass. They don’t only suck plant stalks dry to get
the juice they need to survive; they secrete a sweet liquid called
honeydew. The liquid attracts ants and causes black, sooty mold. They
reproduce quickly.
Thrips
Thrips
are similar to aphids, though they're more likely to attack your
border garden plants than the lawn itself. Like aphids, these pests
attach themselves to the plants and suck out their juices. They also
scrape at fruits, flowers, and leaves. Their damage results in
twisted, damaged plants.
Spider
Mites
Spider
mites are even tinier than aphids or thrips. These pests suck the
juices out of plants, which causes the plants to wither and turn
yellow. If left uncontrolled, they can spread prolifically and cause
devastation to your yard and garden.
Lawn
Caterpillars
Lawn
caterpillars can devastate a lawn. These species include sod webworm,
fall armyworm, and striped grass looper. Sod webworms are little
purple caterpillars that hide during the day. Fall armyworms look
like army camouflage. They are active at dawn and dusk. The striped
grass looper is long and brightly colored. They're all voracious
grass eaters, so they can scalp your lawn quickly.
Grubs
Lawn
grubs are scarab beetle larvae. They're the miniature of beetles such
as Japanese beetles and European chafers. They eat grass roots, which
naturally causes the stalks to die. They can kill off whole sections
of a lawn if the infestation is dense enough.
Beneficial
Insects
Beneficial
insects are the heroes who swoop in and eat the above insects.
Indeed, if you have a newly sodded lawn, you might consider
introducing some of the below insects.
Lady
Beetles, or Ladybugs
Lady
beetles are voracious eaters, and that appetite can serve your new
sod lawn well. Ladybug larvae eat soft-bodied lawn pests such as
aphids. Ladybugs also eat thrips and spider mites. Adult ladybirds
additionally need nectar to thrive. That fact makes them a
pollinator, which is always beneficial for a landscaped yard.
Ground
Beetles
Ground
beetles are a species of predatory beetles. They're shiny and range
in color from bronze to green. Like lady beetles, ground beetle
larvae and adults feed on soft-bodied lawn pests. The adults employ a
seek-and-destroy strategy to kill their prey, which includes
caterpillars. Ground beetles also feed on slugs and snails.
Rove
Beetles
Rove
beetles are another species of predatory beetle. They commonly live
in turfgrass, such as a sod lawn. They're longer than ground beetles
and feature a different wing structure. Rove beetles are a major
predator for lawn mites. The beetles also feed on insects that feed
on plant roots, so their presence keeps your sod healthy.
Hoverflies
Hoverflies
look like large bees. Their larvae, called maggots, thrive on aphids.
Indeed, a single maggot can eat as many as 400 aphids before reaching
maturation. What's more, the adult insects continue to eat aphids and
other small lawn pests.
Enjoy
your new sod lawn with the above beneficial insects at work keeping
it safe. If you need turf for your yard, contact Novasack
Turf Farms
.
