South Florida Lawn Insects: What You Should Know

Whether you know it or not, your lawn is alive with South Florida lawn insects. Many draw little notice: They’re harmless to your grass or even beneficial, in some cases. It takes an experienced pest control professional to tell the difference between the insects that can do expensive damage to your lawn and those that are simply part of the landscape.

While it’s important to preserve beneficial insects, they can’t do all the work of controlling the more destructive kind. That’s why a scheduled pest management program is the best way to ensure that your property is protected from the South Florida lawn insects that may threaten your grass and gardens.

Pesticides for controlling South Florida lawn insects must be carefully formulated for the type of insect and the variety of lawn. In most cases, spraying is the first line of defense against infestation by destructive species. Granular formulas may be preferred in some cases. Some chemicals may need to be preceded by irrigation with water, while others are more effective when followed by irrigation. A reputable pest control provider will make critical, case-by-case decisions about issues such as utilizing spot treatments of small areas as a preventive strategy before more widespread treatments.

Among the destructive varieties of South Florida lawn insects, some of the usual suspects include:

• Chinchbugs, spittlebugs and grass scales inhabit plant foliage and destroy vegetation by sucking the juices.
• Sod webworms, armyworms and grass loopers live by consuming leaves of grass.
• White grubs, billbugs and mole crickets live below the surface of the soil and pose a threat to grass roots in addition to boring tunnels and creating mounds.
• Some inhabitants of your lawn are actually a nuisance to humans and pets instead of your grass. Fleas, ticks, chiggers and millipedes bite or sting and may relocate from the lawn into your home in large numbers.

In Palm Beach and Broward counties, Haggerty Pest Control Service delivers the indoor/outdoor expertise to solve insect problems of the house and landscape. Contact us for an experienced evaluation of the South Florida lawn insects on your property.

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