Lawn Pest Identification

Landscape & Lawn Pests

Healthy lawns and landscapes are teaming with insect life. Yet, very few of the species you see in your backyard are damaging (it is estimated that less than 1% of all insect species are pests). The point here, is that once lawn pests are discovered don’t go crazy and spray all kinds of harmful chemicals to eradicate the problem. Broad-spectrum insecticides kill all insects, both good and bad.

One of the first steps to controlling lawn pests (without worry) requires a basic understanding of the insect itself. Knowing the life-cycle can help determine what control measures should be used and when they will be most effective. A common-sense approach to pest control involves using least-toxic methods first — barriers & repellents, beneficial insects, biological pesticides, soaps and oils — with the more toxic (but short lived) botanical insecticides used only if necessary.

Garden Pest

Animals

Where: In yards and landscaped areas where digging, urinating and defecating cause damage.

Garden Ant

Ants

Where: Pestiferous in landscaped areas where they protect aphids and other pest insects.

Aphid Colony

Aphids

Where: In clusters, under leaves, and on new plant growth of indoor and outdoor gardens.

Black Vine Weevil Damage

Black Vine Weevil

Where: On and around rhododendron, azalea, hemlock and many other ornamentals.

Carpenter Ant

Carpenter Ants

Where: Found inside and out tunneling and nesting in damp, decaying wood structures.

Chinch Bugs Turf

Chinch Bugs

Where: Lawns may be severely damaged. Chinch bugs are most damaging in open, sunny areas.

Buck Deer

Deer

Where: Browsers are found nibbling on gardens, tender perennials and young trees.

Dollar Spot

Dollar Spot

Where: A disease of closely mowed lawns. Appears as brown spots the size of a silver dollar.

Garden Earwig

Earwig

Where: Leaves, flowers and shoots of most vegetables, flowers and ornamentals.

Fairy Rings Turf

Fairy Rings

Where: On lawns during spring and summer months. Rings appear as dark green bands.

Fire Ant

Fire Ants

Where: Found in 13 southern states. Known for their painful sting and aggressive behavior.

Cat Flea

Fleas

Where: In and around homes where they feed on humans, pets and other animals.

House Fly

Flies

Where: One of the most prevalent of all flying insect pests found throughout the world.

Grasshopper

Grasshopper

Where: One of the most destructive insect pests attacking small trees, shrubs and gardens.

Gypsy Moth Adult

Gypsy Moth

Where: One of the most damaging pests of hardwood forests and urban landscapes.

Japanese Beetles

Japanese Beetle

Where: Throughout the eastern United States on lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and foliage.

Leafhopper

Leafhopper

Where: Found on a variety of fruit and vegetable crops throughout North America.

Leafminer

Leafminer

Where: Between the upper and lower surfaces of leaves. Common in greenhouses.

Mealybugs

Mealybugs

Where: Leaves, stems and fruit of many flowers, fruits and ornamental plants.

Mole Mounds

Mole

Where: In lawns and landscaped areas where they dig tunnels and push up mounds of earth.

Mosquito

Mosquito

Where: Worldwide, especially around wet areas. Known to transmit human disease agents.

Sawfly

Sawfly

Where: Leaves of mountain ash, hawthorn, flowering cherry, flowering plum and pear.

Scale Insects

Scale Insects

Where: Backyard orchards, greenhouses and indoor gardens throughout North America.

Garden Slug

Slug & Snail

Where: In damp, shady locations feeding on live and decaying plant material. Most active at night.

Sod Webworm Moth

Sod Webworm

Where: Lawns and turfgrass across North America. Feeds on grass near the soil surface.

Rolly Polly Bug

Sowbug & Pillbug

Where: On decaying matter; occasionally on seedlings, new roots and lower leaves.

Spider Mite

Spider Mites

Where: Indoor and outdoor gardens and can be very destructive in greenhouses.

Tent Caterpillars

Tent Caterpillar

Where: Larvae produce unsightly webs, or tents, in the crotches of tree and shrub branches.

Flower Thrips

Thrips

Where: On the leaves, fruits and flowers of many greenhouse, ornamental and vegetable plants.

Dog Tick

Tick

Where: Found throughout the world, ticks transmit a wide variety of human pathogens.

Greenhouse Whiteflies

Whiteflies

Where: On the leaves, flowers and fruits of many indoor and outdoor plantings.

Yellow Jacket

Yellow Jacket

Where: Pestiferous around picnics, trash cans and hummingbird feeders.