Billbugs in North
Florida Lawns
Checking Insect Numbers In the Lawn:
Scouting the lawn
for Billbugs and the sighns of damage they can do should be done frequently to carefully
monitor both harmful and beneficial insect populations.
Descriptions:
Billbuggs are soil dwelling insects. The
adult beetles are 3/8 of an inch long, a dark brown color with a snout
like bill giving them their name. The larvae are white with a yellowish brown head and
grow to 3/8 of an inch long.
Damage to Lawns done by
Bilbugs:
The larval form of the billbug is what does
the most damage to sod. They feed on the roots causing dead areas
through the lawn. Damage can first appear as small spots a few inches across
of yellowing then browning grass blades, but will enlarge as the grubs continue to
feed. Heavy infestations completely destroy the sod and it can be rolled back as if it were cut with a
shovel or sod cutter.
Feeding Habitsof Billbugs in
Jacksonville | St. Augustine | North Florida:
Billbugs are major pests on Zoysia lawns and tend
to favor Bermuda grass as well. They are sometimes found on other grass
varieties.
Reproduction and Life
Cycle:
Checking for Billbug
Populations:
Control may be
needed once billbugs have been identified and numbers reach 10 or more per square foot area.
Checking for Billbugs should be done in
several areas of grass through the yard.
Control of Billbugs in the
Jacksonville | St. Augustine | North Florida Areas:
Natural Control
of Billbugs:
Moles, skunks and armadillos feed on the
grubs and will tear up the lawn looking for them. I have always welcomed the sight of mole tracks in my yard
knowing they are doing their job and consuming mass amounts of grubs in the lawn. When the grubs are gone the
moles will be gone as well off searching for a better food supply.
Chemical
control of Billbugs:
Billbugs
and their larvae can be controlled with chemicals such as Diazanon. Orthene, Oftanol,Trichlorfon and
Sevin.
When using a liquid apply on to moist grass and apply ½ inch of water after treatment to move the
chemical into the root zone of the grass.
When using a granular irrigate with ½ inch of water
immediately after treatment.
A Word of Caution with Chemical
Treatment from Me to You:
Perhaps it is my many years of dealing with the people in
the Agriculture industry who have lived long lives and encountered many troubles with chemicals during their
careers, but I cannot talk about chemical control without at least my mentioning the following
concerns.
Make sure to read all directions carefully and apply liquid sprays diluted with
water at the application rate recommended on the product label for the pest you are targeting and do not mix
stronger than suggested target treatment rates.
Remember that
insecticides are POISONS and approach their use with caution, wear protective eye gear and
chemical resistant gloves and rubber boots as well as long sleeved shirts and pants. Remember to wash these
items separately from other laundry immediately after application and shower after getting the clothes into the
laundry.
Lastly but most
importantly, pay particular attention to lock unused chemicals up away from visiting children
and pets.
So that’s it on the
speech about chemicals, I hope I have been able to help you know what’s wrong and how to treat it so now you
have to help me sleep easier by indulging me with these motherly concerns, fair trade don’t you think?
I’ll sleep easier knowing that you did.
J Charlotte
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