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Vagabond Sod Webworms Take Flight
Vagabond Sod Webworms Take Flight
The other night at dusk I was taking my dog for a walk and noticed many tan-colored moths flying up out of the grass. From past experience, I know that what I was seeing was the annual emergence of vagabond sod webworm moths. They come out in large numbers and cause considerable concern for many homeowners and turf managers. They think their lawns are being attacked by the more serious sod webworm moths.
Actually, the moths are not a concern from a feeding standpoint. They don't feed, so they don't damage the turf or surrounding plants. The interesting thing about these moths is the way they deposit their eggs. As the female flies across the lawn, she drops her eggs bomb-like. They will fly over well-manicured lawns as the eggs are dropped, but many eggs end up as food for several different insects that reside in lawns.
The vagabond sod webworm only has one generation per year. Caterpillars will hatch from the eggs and begin feeding on turf grass blades, but since the turf grows faster in the fall, the grass plant will quickly grow a new blade, so visible damage is minor. The caterpillars overwinter in the thatch and will continue feeding in the spring. Once again, little damage is visible as the grass grows out of any damage. The caterpillars will form a pupal case and remain in that state during the summer and wait for the cooler weather of fall to emerge again.