How many generations do sod webworms have per year, and when do the first and second generation adults appear?

How many generations do sod webworms have per year, and when do the first and second generation adults appear?

• A. Two generations per year; first-generation adults appear in June, second-generation adults in late July and August
• B. One generation; adults in May
• C. Three generations; adults in March, May, July
• D. Four generations; adults all summer

Answer: (A)

Sod webworms in Kansas turf usually complete two generations per year, with the first-generation adults appearing in June and the second-generation adults emerging in late July and August. This pattern follows the insect’s life cycle: eggs laid by spring or early-summer moths hatch into larvae that feed on the grass through spring and early summer, then pupate to produce adults in June. Those June adults lay more eggs, leading to a second brood whose larvae feed later in the summer, and the corresponding adults emerge in late July and August. The timing reflects how temperature and the length of the warm season drive development in this climate. The other options imply different numbers or timings that don’t match the typical Kansas 3B pattern.

Sod webworms in Kansas turf usually complete two generations per year, with the first-generation adults appearing in June and the second-generation adults emerging in late July and August. This pattern follows the insect’s life cycle: eggs laid by spring or early-summer moths hatch into larvae that feed on the grass through spring and early summer, then pupate to produce adults in June. Those June adults lay more eggs, leading to a second brood whose larvae feed later in the summer, and the corresponding adults emerge in late July and August. The timing reflects how temperature and the length of the warm season drive development in this climate. The other options imply different numbers or timings that don’t match the typical Kansas 3B pattern.