What is a characteristic feature of sod webworm larvae?

What is a characteristic feature of sod webworm larvae?

• A. Dark heads and rows of light-brown spots arranged in rings around greenish-gray bodies
• B. Bright green bodies with black stripes
• C. White bodies with red heads
• D. Pink larvae with blue spots

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing what sod webworm larvae typically look like so you can identify them in turf. The best-described feature is a dark head capsule along with rows of light-brown spots arranged in rings around a greenish-gray body. That ringed, spotted pattern on a muted green-gray caterpillar is a distinctive look for these larvae and helps distinguish them from other turf caterpillars that may be bright green, white with colored heads, or pink with spots. In the field, you’ll often find them hiding in silk tunnels in the thatch and feeding on blades at night, which further supports this identification. So the feature described matches the common appearance of sod webworm larvae, making it the correct choice.

The main idea here is recognizing what sod webworm larvae typically look like so you can identify them in turf. The best-described feature is a dark head capsule along with rows of light-brown spots arranged in rings around a greenish-gray body. That ringed, spotted pattern on a muted green-gray caterpillar is a distinctive look for these larvae and helps distinguish them from other turf caterpillars that may be bright green, white with colored heads, or pink with spots. In the field, you’ll often find them hiding in silk tunnels in the thatch and feeding on blades at night, which further supports this identification. So the feature described matches the common appearance of sod webworm larvae, making it the correct choice.