The bluegrass sod webworm is described as one of the most destructive turfgrass pests in Kansas. Which statement best reflects this?

The bluegrass sod webworm is described as one of the most destructive turfgrass pests in Kansas. Which statement best reflects this?

• A. It is one of the most destructive turfgrass pests in Kansas.
• B. It is rarely found in Kansas.
• C. It feeds on leaves but not roots.
• D. It is only active in winter.

Answer: (A)

High damage potential and the need for timely management is what this question is getting at. When a pest is described as one of the most destructive turfgrass pests in Kansas, it means that, once populations build, it can cause substantial turf injury—thinning, dead patches, and reduced stand vigor—which makes early monitoring and control crucial to protect the turf. The bluegrass sod webworm’s larvae feed on the grass blades, creating visible damage such as ragged, thinning patches in cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass. That level of feeding can spread quickly, so recognizing this pest as highly destructive signals you should stay vigilant and be prepared to intervene before damage becomes widespread. Other statements don’t fit because they downplay the pest’s impact or misstate its biology: it being rarely found conflicts with the description of it as highly destructive; feeding only on leaves ignores the typical pattern and impact of the damage, and being active only in winter contradicts the pest’s normal seasonal activity and timing of damage.

High damage potential and the need for timely management is what this question is getting at. When a pest is described as one of the most destructive turfgrass pests in Kansas, it means that, once populations build, it can cause substantial turf injury—thinning, dead patches, and reduced stand vigor—which makes early monitoring and control crucial to protect the turf.

The bluegrass sod webworm’s larvae feed on the grass blades, creating visible damage such as ragged, thinning patches in cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass. That level of feeding can spread quickly, so recognizing this pest as highly destructive signals you should stay vigilant and be prepared to intervene before damage becomes widespread.

Other statements don’t fit because they downplay the pest’s impact or misstate its biology: it being rarely found conflicts with the description of it as highly destructive; feeding only on leaves ignores the typical pattern and impact of the damage, and being active only in winter contradicts the pest’s normal seasonal activity and timing of damage.