In Texas, lawn insects are a frequent issue that, if left untreated, can destroy lawns. Grubs, chinch bugs, and armyworms are three of the most common lawn pests that can destroy lawns in Texas. Grubs will destroy your lawn by feasting on the roots of your grass while chinch bugs will suck the juice out of the blades. Armyworms, on the other hand, like to just feast on the grass blades. Continue reading to learn how these insects can damage your turf, the signs to look out for that indicate they are infesting your lawn, and the best way to deal with them.

1. Grubs

Grubs crawling in soil in Buda, TX.

Grubs are one of the most destructive lawn insects that can be found in Texas. These little insects will feast on the roots of your grass, leaving it unanchored to the soil. These insects are hard to spot because they are tiny and usually underground, so the best way to identify if they are in your lawn is to look out for some common signs that indicate a grub presence on your property. If you notice brown spots popping up on your lawn, it could be due to the fact that grubs are killing your grass from underneath. Also, if your lawn feels spongy when you walk on it, that's an indicator that grubs may have chewed through the roots of your grass, giving it a bouncy, spongy feeling.

There are treatments that can stop grubs from becoming a problem in the first place. There are also treatments for lawns that are already infested with grubs. The two grub control methods are as follows:

  • Preventative treatments: This treatment is designed to prevent grub eggs from hatching.
  • Curative treatments: Curative grub control treatments are used to eliminate a current grub infestation.

2. Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs found in woods in Kyle, TX.

Chinch bugs are very tiny insects with white wings and black bodies that are covered in hair. These insects can destroy your lawn by piercing the grass blades and sucking the juice from them, causing your lawn to turn brown and die. Searching for chinch bugs can be very challenging because they are so tiny, so you'll need to be on the lookout for signs that they are infesting your lawn. If you suspect your lawn is infested with chinch bugs, you should reach out to a professional lawn care company right away. They will be able to confirm if chinch bugs are present on your lawn and can administer curative treatments if needed to eliminate them.

If your lawn was damaged by chinch bugs, you can help your lawn recover by scheduling lawn care services like fertilization, aeration, and weed control.

3. Armyworms

Armyworm found in property in Buda, TX.

Armyworms, a type of caterpillar, are typically dark brown, green, or black in color. They have distinctive upside-down "Y" markings on their heads and white, orange, and occasionally yellow stripes running down their bodies. These are among the easier insects to identify due to their detailed characterization.

Your grass's blades are what armyworms primarily eat. The green tissue of your grass will be scraped off by young armyworms, but mature armyworms can chew through the entire blades, severely damaging your lawn. Curative treatments can be used to eliminate armyworms.

Give us a call to schedule our grub control, chinch bug control, or armyworm control services.

At Century Lawn and Landscape, we offer lawn insect control treatments to protect your lawn from these damage-causing pests. We offer our chinch bug control, grub control, and armyworm control services to residential property owners in Austin, Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, TX, and surrounding areas. Call (512) 786-1694 to schedule any of these services today! We look forward to hearing from you!