Knowing the common types of lawn insects in Florida is crucial for keeping your turf healthy. Some of the most prevalent pests in the area include grubs, chinch bugs, armyworms, sod webworms, and mole crickets. Grubs are the larvae of beetles and feed on the roots of grass, causing brown patches and wilting. Chinch bugs also cause patches of brown grass by sucking out the juices from the blades. Armyworms and sod webworms are caterpillars that feed on the grass blades, leaving behind ragged, chewed areas. Mole crickets tunnel through the soil and feed on the roots of grass, causing it to die off.


Grubs are the larvae of beetles and feed on the roots of grass.

Four grubs in soil in Florida.

Grubs are the larvae of beetles and are white, C-shaped pests that live in the soil. They feed on the roots of grass, which can cause it to become unattached to the soil. As they do this, they leave behind patches of brown, dead grass. If left untreated, grubs can cause extensive damage to your lawn, leading to a weakened and unattractive turf.

The best way to protect your lawn from grubs is to invest in professional grub control treatments.

Chinch bugs suck out the juices from the grass blades and inject a toxin that kills them.

A chinch bug on a blade of grass in Florida.

Chinch bugs are small, winged insects that suck out the juices from the grass blades and inject a toxin that kills them. They typically become active during warm, dry weather conditions. Chinch bug damage usually appears as irregular, patchy areas of thin, straw-colored grass. These patches may have a dark, water-soaked ring around them, which is caused by the newly laid eggs hatching and the nymphs moving upward to find more favorable feeding conditions. To effectively deal with these lawn insects, professional treatments are often required.


Armyworms and sod webworms are caterpillars that feed on blades of grass.

Armyworm chewing on a blade of grass.

Armyworms and sod webworms are two common types of lawn insects in Florida that are caterpillars. They are both green or brown with black spots on their bodies and have a voracious appetite for grass blades. Armyworms and sod webworms can cause extensive damage to your lawn in a short amount of time. They feed in large groups, moving across your turf like an army or a swarm, leaving behind a wake of destruction in their path. To protect your turf from these lawn insects, it's best to schedule professional lawn insect control treatments.


Mole crickets tunnel through the soil and feed on the roots of grass.

A mole cricket in a vegetation bed in Florida.

Mole crickets are turf-damaging lawn insects that get their name from their behavior. They have strong forelegs that they use to dig through the soil, which is where they feed and lay their eggs. As they dig, they can uproot the grass and cause it to appear matted or flattened to the ground. The damage they cause is most noticeable once the grass has started to grow back in the spring. These insects can be effectively dealt with via professional treatments.


Give us a call today to schedule our lawn insect control service.

If you suspect your lawn is suffering from damage from any of these lawn insects, it's crucial that you contact professionals immediately. That's where we come in! At Leafy Landscapes, we offer a lawn insect control service to help keep your lawn protected from pests like grubs, chinch bugs, armyworms, sod webworms, and mole crickets. We use highly effective curative treatments to eliminate these pests and preventative treatments to stop them before they have the chance to infest your lawn to begin with. We offer this service to residential property owners in New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Ponce Inlet, and throughout the surrounding areas in Florida. Give us a call today at (386) 492-8862 to schedule our lawn insect control service!