You’ve just finished mowing the lawn and you notice something strange. Some kind of insect made holes in the grass, about an inch in diameter. What are billbugs? Who are these billbug guys and how do you get rid of them? Keep reading to find out all you need to know about this pesky threat to your yard and how to get rid of billbugs in your grass. If you’re seeing holes in your grass, along with a small beetle-like creature that’s black with red or orange markings on it, then it’s likely that you have billbug larvae. These little insects can be more than just a frustrating pest; they also reduce the quality and quantity of your green space.
How To Get Rid of Billbugs in Your Grass
What Are Billbugs?
Billbugs are a type of beetle that lives in the soil year-round and eats plant roots. They are also known as “grubs”, “grub worms”, or “earworms”. These pests are found in all 50 states, but they are most common in the central and western part of the country. Billbugs are especially difficult to control because they spend most of their lives hidden in the soil. Billbugs are about 1/2 inches long and have a black head and legs, a yellow or reddish brown body, and antennae that are about 1/4 inch long. They can be found on a variety of plants, including lawns, ornamental trees, shrubs, and vegetables. The larvae feed on the roots of grasses and other plants, causing damage and reducing the health of your lawn, especially in hot weather. Their presence can also cause problems for people who have allergies to the bites.
What Do Billbugs Look Like?
You can identify billbugs by looking for the following signs in your lawn: –
- Holes in the grass: large holes in the grass cause Billbug damage by chewing on the roots. These holes will be about 1 inch in diameter and will be brown or dead at the edges.
- Dead patches – Billbugs can kill small patches of grass, especially if they are already stressed and unhealthy. – Stunted and yellowing grass.
- Billbugs can cause grass to become stunted and yellow. – Small black and red beetle – You may see a small black and red beetle-like creature moving around the tops of the grass, near the soil surface. –
- Dying trees or shrubs – Billbugs may also feed on ornamental trees and shrubs.
- Plants wilting: Plants, especially newly planted ones, may wilt and die if they have been infested with billbugs.
How To Get Rid of Billbugs?
If you find that your lawn is infested with billbugs, there are several things you can do to get rid of them. You can also use organic and chemical control methods to kill off billbugs and keep them from coming back. – Rototill the soil – Rototill the soil to kill the billbugs and their young. You can do this as soon as you notice signs of billbugs in your lawn. – Replace the grass – If you have a large area that has been damaged by billbugs, you may want to consider replacing the grass with a different type of ground cover. – Apply pesticides – If you are growing vegetables or another edible crop, you may want to consider pesticides to kill the billbugs.
How to Repel Billbugs?
If you want to keep billbugs out of your lawn, you can try a few different methods. – Remove debris – Clear away leaves, weeds, and other debris from the area around your lawn. These things provide cover for billbugs and other pests. – Get rid of pests – Kill off pests like slugs and snails, which also like to live in the soil. – Mow regularly – Keep your lawn mowed regularly to prevent it from becoming too long. Long grass is more susceptible to pests and diseases. – Rotate your plants – Rotate the plants that you grow in your yard to reduce the chances of pests and diseases. – Water properly – Water your lawn properly to keep it green and healthy. – Improve soil health – Improve the health of your soil by adding nutrients and organic matter.
Best Pesticides to Get Rid of Billbugs
1. Bonide (BND60360) – Insect and Grub Control
- INSECT KILLER – This pest control is great for use on species of ant, cricket, chinch bug, billbug, cutworm, earwig, flea, roach, grub, sod webworm, tick and other listed bug species.
- PROTECT YOUR LAWN AND HOME – Insect and Grub Control is designed for fast acting, long lasting control from invading species. Use outdoors, on lawns and around the foundation of the house. Not for indoor use.
- TOP TO BOTTOM PROTECTION – Product offers complete insect control for the soil and surface of your yard. It will kill insects both above and below the surface of your lawn.
2. Ortho Bug B Gon Insect Killer for Lawns3.
Ortho Bug B Gon is regarded as the best billbug killer, because it starts working within minutes after application. A single container may treat up to 5300 square feet and kill billbugs as well as over 235 other lawn insects and bugs.
3. SPECTRUM BRANDS 53944
- KILLS LAWN INSECTS: Use outdoors on lawns and as a band treatment around your house foundation.
- KILLS MORE THAN 100 INSECT TYPES: Kills insects above and below ground, including ants (excluding harvester and pharaoh ants), crickets, armyworms, cutworms, grubs, ticks and others as listed.
- KILLS ON CONTACT: Treat when insects first appear or when you notice lawn damage.
Conclusion
Billbugs can be a real headache. These pests can cause a lot of damage to your lawn, including stunted and yellowing grass and dying trees and shrubs. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them and keep them out of your lawn in the future. You can also try to repel billbugs before they even get started by rotating your plants, mowing your grass regularly, and keeping your soil healthy.
Also Read:
- 6 Reasons Why Dawn Dish Soap Is the Best for Killing
- Top 5 Best Lawn Mowers for Bermuda Grass
- DIY: How To Get Rid of Billbugs in Your Grass
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