HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-05-07, Page 16For lawn care enthusiasts, perhaps
no problem can prove more puzzling
than insects.
Regardless of how hard a
homeowner might work on his yard,
the potential for insect infestation is
always there and always threatening
to turn a lush lawn and green garden
into a nightmare.
Arguably the biggest problem
lawn insects pose is their variety.
While some lawn insects attack plant
roots and soil, others are content to
feed on a plant's leaves and stems.
Such disparity can make any
homeowner feel helpless.
However, knowing and being
capable of recognizing the different
types of insects that can infect a lawn
can go a long way toward protecting
a lawn and garden and making sure
all that hard work isn't for naught.
* Sod webworms:Sod webworms
prefer to infect new lawns, attacking
grass and leaving irregular brown
spots in their wake. A heavy
infestation of sod webworms can
destroy large areas of grass in less
than a week.
Sod webworms feed on the grass
leaves and are active only at night.
The larvae of lawn moths, sod
webworms are small, white or grey
in colour, and can come in several
different species.
* Ants:While it can seem standard
to have ants in the yard, ants can
prove very destructive. Once ants
build anthills, those hills can smother
surrounding grass. In addition, when
ants nest around roots of the grass,
those roots can be smothered,
prohibiting grass growth as a
result.
* Leafhoppers:Thought tiny in
size, leafhoppers can pack a
powerful punch. More than 20,000
species of leafhoppers are known to
exist, and scientists suggest that there
could be as many as five times that
amount.
Leafhoppers do damage by
sucking the sap from the leaves and
stems of the grass, potentially
forcing a newly planted lawn to be
entirely reseeded. In older lawns, the
presence of whitened patches could
be indicative of leafhoppers.
Leafhoppers, which are green,
brownish grey or yellow in
appearance, are so called because
they fly or hop short distances.
* Mites:Similar to leafhoppers,
mites come in numerous species and
suck the sap, causing leaves to
appear blotchy and spotted. In some
cases, mites can infect an entire area.
* Ticks:While it’s common to
assume ticks are only found in
heavily wooded areas, they can
actually be found in lawns as well.
Generally, ticks are harmless to
lawns, but pose a threat to the people
who spend ample time enjoying
those lawns, including children.
Lawns tend to get tick infestations
when ticks drop to the lawn from
dogs and rodents. Because ticks can
cause Lyme disease among other
ailments, it’s a good idea for
homeowners to inspect their lawn
should they see a tick.
PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2009.Recognizing the signs of insect infestation
Growing healthy
Even the most well-manicured grounds can fall victim to
insect infestation, potentially costing homeowners lots of
time and money in the process. (MS submitted)
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