rush-348481_1920Florida lawns are magnets for pests. With year-round semi-tropical weather, high sunshine rates, and an abundance of wide open green space, pests find themselves quite at home here. And that is especially the case with your front lawn. Be it the grass synonymous with the state, St. Augustine grass, or less common varieties such as Bermuda, Zoysia, or Bahia, local Tampa area pests have the ability to cause you trouble. The damages vary, as do the potential remedies (such as calling the Tampa pest control experts at Apex Pest Control), but below is a list of typical pests you’ll find in a Central Florida lawn.

  • Sod Webworms: This is a type of moth of the genus crambus commonly found in the spring. The issues start with their offspring, which feast on lawn grass. Difficult to identify because of their nocturnal nature, damage can be limited with well-kept turf (don’t over-mow the lawn, particularly in droughts).
  • Chinch Bugs: Chinch bugs are very common and easily identifiable by the unique brown circles they leave in St. Augustine grass. They prefer the areas of your lawn most open to sunlight and are extremely difficult to remove.
  • Mole Crickets: A non-native Central Florida pest originally from Central and South America, mole crickets ruin roots with their tunneling. They prefer coastal areas, and usually, professional assistance is needed in removal as they have no natural native predators.
  • Spittlebugs: Spittlebugs spread a foam like coating on both St. Augustine and Bermuda grass that, over time, causes the lawn to turn brown. Keeping your lawn protected with certain chemicals can deter spittlebugs before they take over.
  • Grubs: A grub is a beetle larvae, commonly, and it needs to eat. White grubs are typical in Tampa area lawns and inflict damage by eating the roots of turf grass. This makes them highly destructive. They can be difficult to identify until damage has been done, as they are small and generally embedded in soil.
  • Army Worms: Yet another insect that is, in fact, a type of moth, army worms can eat a large amount of grass under the cover of darkness. They actually can reach nearly two inches in length and have an appetite.

This is but a few of the many types of insects and pests that can damage or destroy your lawn. It’s a constant battle in Tampa, one that is best won with the help of Tampa pest control professionals on your side. Contact Apex at (866) 675-4070. We offer a free no obligation quote and visit, and will always get back to you within 24-hours.

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