What Can Insects REALLY Do To Your Yard?
Japanese Beetles
If you’ve spent any time caring for your lawn, chances are you’ve heard of the Japanese beetle. Unlike some insects that seek to stay out of sight, it’s not uncommon to actually see Japanese beetles on your lawn, where they enjoy feeding on grass and laying their eggs in the soil. These insects also like to inhabit gardens, where they can dine on fruits, vegetables, and flowers. The presence of Japanese beetles usually preludes dying patches of grass in your lawn, caused by their larvae. If this happens to you, contact our nearby lawn service and arrange for a treatment, which may include eco-friendly lawn chemicals.
Lawn Grubs
Lawn grubs are the larvae of several beetle types, including the aforementioned Japanese beetle and the common June beetle. Grubs can pose a big problem in Iowa and the greater Midwest, due to the fact that irrigation (specifically, sprinklers) is commonplace in order to keep grass and flowers from dying. The dying patches of dead lawn referenced above are the result of grubs devouring grass roots. Making matters worse is the fact that certain predators (skunks, raccoons, and the like) will burrow into these dead patches in search of grubs to eat. Thankfully, our lawn treatment expertise includes several solutions for expunging grubs from your lush, green lawn.
Chinch Bugs
Though these insects are tiny in size (only 1/20 of an inch), they pack a big punch. In the absence of professional lawn care in Sioux City, chinch bugs will suck the juices and nutrients from your grass, especially in sunny parts of the lawn. And not only do they deprive your grass of its juices, chinch bugs also secrete a toxin that loosens the grass from the soil. Given their diminutive size, these insects are tough to spot unless you crouch down to close to the grass. However, they commonly dwell amongst a lawns’ thatch layer, which is why many of our customers will have us dethatch their lawn as an effective means of control.
Mole Crickets
On the list of the Top 10 insects posing the biggest danger to a lawn, mole crickets are at or very near the top. True to their name, mole crickets tunnel through soil. In the process they’ll feed on anything in their way: decaying plant matter, other insects, and grass roots. And while mole crickets prefer doing their dirty work in moist soil, the truth is they’ll wreak havoc pretty much anywhere. Evidence of mole crickets includes grass that has a spongy feel when walked on – this is caused by dead or dying grass that lacks roots. Another clue is the presence of irregularly-shaped brown patches in the lawn, and finger-width tunnels in the soil.
Siouxland Insect Control Experts
Maintaining a beautiful, healthy lawn is a year-round job, and the experts at Jay-Lan Lawn Care are up to the task. Insect abatement and extermination are two of our many services, and we look forward to speaking further with you about your unique lawn care needs.