What is the feeding behavior of sod webworm larvae?

What is the feeding behavior of sod webworm larvae?

• A. Clip grass blades close to ground and pull them into silken runways
• B. Bore into crowns
• C. Suck sap from leaves
• D. Eat only dead grass

Answer: (A)

The feeding behavior being tested is that sod webworm larvae clip grass blades close to the ground and pull them into silken runways. This caterpillar-like pest chews the blades at the turf surface and uses silk tunnels to move and feed, which creates the characteristic chewed, ragged patches with visible runways in the thatch. The other options don’t fit: boring into crowns is more typical of other pests, not sod webworms; sucking sap from leaves describes sap-sucking insects rather than chewing caterpillars; and eating only dead grass would imply feeding on decaying tissue, whereas sod webworm larvae feed on living foliage.

The feeding behavior being tested is that sod webworm larvae clip grass blades close to the ground and pull them into silken runways. This caterpillar-like pest chews the blades at the turf surface and uses silk tunnels to move and feed, which creates the characteristic chewed, ragged patches with visible runways in the thatch. The other options don’t fit: boring into crowns is more typical of other pests, not sod webworms; sucking sap from leaves describes sap-sucking insects rather than chewing caterpillars; and eating only dead grass would imply feeding on decaying tissue, whereas sod webworm larvae feed on living foliage.