Recognizing Insect Infestation

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For lawn care enthusiasts, perhaps no problem can prove more puzzling than insects. Regardless of how hard a homeowner might work on his yard, the potential for insect infestation is always there and always threatening to turn a lush lawn and green garden into a nightmare.

Arguably the biggest problem lawn insects pose is their variety. While some lawn insects attack plant roots and soil, others are content to feed on a plant's leaves and stems. Such disparity can make any homeowner feel helpless. However, knowing and being capable of recognizing the different types of insects that can infect a lawn can go a long way toward protecting a lawn and garden and making sure all that hard work isn't for naught.

* Sod webworms: Sod webworms prefer to infect new lawns, attacking grass and leaving irregular brown spots in their wake. A heavy infestation of sod webworms can destroy large areas of grass in less than a week. Sod webworms feed on the grass leaves and are active only at night. The larvae of lawn moths, sod webworms are small, white or gray in color, and can come in several different species.

* Ants: While it can seem standard to have ants in the yard, ants can prove very destructive. Once ants build anthills, those hills can smother surrounding grass. In addition, when ants nest around roots of the grass, those roots can be smothered, prohibiting grass growth as a result.

* Leafhoppers: Thought tiny in size, leafhoppers can pack a powerful punch. More than 20,000 species of leafhoppers are known to exist, and scientists suggest that there could be as many as five times that amount. Leafhoppers do damage by sucking the sap from the leaves and stems of the grass, potentially forcing a newly planted lawn to be entirely reseeded. In older lawns, the presence of whitened patches could be indicative of leafhoppers. Leafhoppers, which are green, brownish gray or yellow in appearance, are so called because they fly or hop short distances.

* Mites: Similar to leafhoppers, mites come in numerous species and suck the sap, causing leaves to appear blotchy and spotted. In some cases, mites can infect an entire area. In 2006, for example, many lawns throughout the Denver area were victimized by mites, as homeowners found their lawns covered with brown spots once winter ended and the spring season began.

* Ticks: While it's common to assume ticks are only found in heavily wooded areas, they can actually be found in lawns as well. Generally, ticks are harmless to lawns, but pose a threat to the people who spend ample time enjoying those lawns, including children. Lawns tend to get tick infestations when ticks drop to the lawn from dogs and rodents. Because ticks can cause Lyme disease among other ailments, it's a good idea for homeowners to inspect their lawn should they see a tick.