Armyworms are notorious lawn insects known to inflict extensive lawn damage in a short period. These pests are the larvae of various moth species and feed by chewing on grass blades. They move in large groups, or armies, which allows them to affect large areas on your lawn in a matter of days. These lawn insects cause the most damage around late summer to early fall when they are most active, thanks to the warm and humid conditions during this time. If armyworms infest your turf in Iowa, call lawn care professionals right away. They'll inspect your lawn to confirm the infestation and treat it with a curative treatment to eliminate it.

What are armyworms, and what damage can they cause to your lawn?

Armyworm chewing on a damaged grass blade in Ankeny, IA.

Armyworms are the caterpillars of various moth species. These pests have dark-colored bodies, which are usually brown, black, or green. Running the length of their bodies are distinctive stripes of white, brown, yellow, or orange with a Y marking on their heads. As they mature into moths, female adults can lay up to 2,000 eggs.

Armyworms damage your lawn by chewing on grass blades, creating a ragged appearance that can mar its beauty. Sometimes, these pests can eat grass down to the ground! Armyworms move in large groups, or armies, hence their name. As they move in large groups, armyworms are capable of damaging large areas on your lawn in a short time! One of the first signs of an armyworm infestation is the presence of brown patches on your lawn. When you inspect the affected areas closely, the grass blades will look jagged because they have been chewed by these pests.

Armyworms move in large groups. also known as armies, and chew on grass blades as they march through lawns!

When do armyworms cause the most damage?

Armyworms are the most active and cause the most damage from late summer to early fall. They prefer warm and humid conditions, which are most prevalent as the warm summer season slowly transitions into the humid and cool environment of the fall season. During this time, conditions are highly favorable for armyworms, which can lead to an increase in their population.

What should you do if you notice signs of an armyworm infestation on your lawn?

If you notice signs of an armyworm infestation, don't wait—call lawn care professionals right away! Armyworms tend to wreak extensive havoc on lawns in just a matter of days, so you want to respond right away to stop them in their tracks. Lawn care professionals will inspect your turf to confirm the infestation and ensure the damage is indeed caused by armyworms. Once they confirm that, they will administer a curative treatment to get rid of these lawn pests and prevent them from causing more harm to your grass!

Invest in lawn care services like lawn fertilization, aeration, and overseeding to help your lawn recover from damage.

Call our team today to schedule our armyworm control service!

Armyworms are able to inflict serious damage to your grass in a short period because they move in large groups. If you see signs of an armyworm infestation on your lawn, contact us right away to schedule our armyworm control service. We can eliminate armyworms with our curative treatments, and we also offer preventative treatments to keep armyworms from ever becoming an issue on your lawn. We offer this service to commercial and residential properties, as well as HOAs, in Ankeny, Johnston, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Waukee, IA, and neighboring areas. Give us a call today at (515) 654-5447 to schedule this service!