Common Lawn Insects to Look Out For

A lush, healthy lawn can completely transform the look of your property—but insects can quickly turn green grass into a patchy, stressed landscape. Some lawn insects feed on grass blades, while others attack roots or create nests that interfere with mowing and outdoor activities.

Knowing what to look for can help you spot a potential problem early and take action before significant damage occurs. Here are some of the most common lawn insects homeowners should keep an eye out for.

Chinch Bugs

Chinch bugs are tiny insects that can cause noticeable damage, particularly in warm-season grasses such as St. Augustinegrass. They feed by piercing grass blades and stems and sucking out plant fluids.

Because their damage often resembles drought stress, chinch bug infestations can sometimes go unnoticed at first.

Signs of Chinch Bugs

• Yellow or brown patches that continue to spread
• Grass that appears dry even after watering
• Damage in sunny, warm areas of the lawn
• Tiny black-and-white insects moving through the grass

If brown patches continue expanding despite proper watering, it may be worth checking for chinch bugs.

Fall Armyworms

Fall armyworms are caterpillars that can move through a lawn quickly while feeding on grass blades. Large populations can cause extensive damage in a surprisingly short amount of time.

Signs of Fall Armyworms

• Grass that suddenly looks thin or closely clipped
• Brown or bare areas appearing quickly
• Caterpillars crawling through the turf
• Increased bird activity as birds search for the insects

Regular lawn inspections can help catch armyworms before they spread across a large area.

White Grubs

White grubs live beneath the soil and feed on grass roots. Because the damage occurs underground, homeowners may notice the symptoms before they ever see the insects themselves.

Signs of White Grubs

• Irregular patches of yellow or dying grass
• Turf that feels loose underfoot
• Grass that pulls away from the soil easily
• White, C-shaped larvae underneath damaged turf
• Birds or animals digging repeatedly in the lawn

A healthy root system is essential for strong grass, which is why heavy grub infestations can cause significant turf loss.

Sod Webworms

Sod webworms are small caterpillars that feed on grass blades, often becoming more active in the evening or overnight. Adult sod webworms are small moths that may fly just above the grass when you walk across the lawn.

Signs of Sod Webworms

• Small brown or thinning patches
• Ragged or chewed grass blades
• Caterpillars hiding close to the soil surface
• Small moths flying above the lawn

Seeing moths does not always mean serious damage is occurring, so inspect the grass closely before deciding treatment is necessary.

Billbugs

Billbugs are small beetles with distinctive snout-like heads. Their larvae can damage lawns by feeding inside grass stems and around the roots.

Signs of Billbug Damage

• Yellowing or browning grass
• Thin or weak patches of turf
• Grass stems that break or pull apart easily
• Small larvae near the base of damaged grass

Billbug damage can resemble heat or drought stress, making accurate identification especially important.

Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers are easy to recognize and may occasionally become numerous enough to damage lawns and nearby landscape plants. They feed by chewing grass blades and leaves.

Signs of Grasshopper Activity

• Ragged or chewed leaves
• Missing sections along plant edges
• Large numbers of grasshoppers jumping as you walk through the yard

A few grasshoppers generally aren't a major concern, but large populations can cause noticeable damage.

Fire Ants

Fire ants don't typically feed on grass the way chinch bugs or armyworms do, but they can still become a serious lawn nuisance.

Their mounds can interfere with mowing and outdoor activities, and their painful stings can pose a risk to children, pets, and anyone spending time outside.

Signs of Fire Ants

• Fresh mounds of loose soil
• Increased ant activity following rain or irrigation
• Multiple colonies appearing throughout the yard

Use caution around suspected fire ant colonies, particularly if children or pets regularly use the lawn.

Contact Our Local Exterminator to Request Lawn Insect Control

By regularly walking your property and watching for changes in color, texture, or insect activity, you can catch many lawn problems while they're still manageable.

If you notice rapidly spreading brown patches, chewed grass, loose turf, unusual insect activity, or other unexplained changes, consider having the issue properly identified before applying a treatment. The team at Target Pest Control is proud to provide versatile lawn insect control services across the Encinal and Laredo, TX areas. All you have to do is contact our local exterminators to request support!