What is the first sign of damage from a buffalograss sod webworm?

What is the first sign of damage from a buffalograss sod webworm?

• A. Spots with leaf blades missing and silk tubes across the soil surface.
• B. Yellowing of the turf with uniform thinning.
• C. Visible frass at the base of stolons.
• D. Wilting of the entire patch during hot weather.

Answer: (A)

The first sign is spots where leaf blades are missing and silk tubes appear across the soil surface. Buffalograss sod webworm larvae feed by chewing the grass blades, creating irregular patches of damaged turf. As they move and feed, they also produce thin silk tubes that stretch across the soil surface, which is a distinctive early clue you’re dealing with this pest. This combination—torn leaf tissue in patches plus visible silk—helps you recognize the problem early and distinguish it from other issues. By contrast, yellowing with uniform thinning usually points to drought or nutrient problems, wilting during hot weather suggests heat stress, and frass at the base of stolons can occur with other pests or later disease stages, so they’re not as immediate an indicator of sod webworm activity.

The first sign is spots where leaf blades are missing and silk tubes appear across the soil surface. Buffalograss sod webworm larvae feed by chewing the grass blades, creating irregular patches of damaged turf. As they move and feed, they also produce thin silk tubes that stretch across the soil surface, which is a distinctive early clue you’re dealing with this pest. This combination—torn leaf tissue in patches plus visible silk—helps you recognize the problem early and distinguish it from other issues. By contrast, yellowing with uniform thinning usually points to drought or nutrient problems, wilting during hot weather suggests heat stress, and frass at the base of stolons can occur with other pests or later disease stages, so they’re not as immediate an indicator of sod webworm activity.