Which symptom is most indicative of sod webworm activity in a lawn?

Which symptom is most indicative of sod webworm activity in a lawn?

• A. Silk webbing near the soil
• B. Drought-stressed leaves
• C. Root girdling
• D. Bark chewing on trunks

Answer: (A)

Sod webworms leave a distinctive sign: silk webbing near the soil surface where the larvae feed just inside the leaf blades. The caterpillars hide in the thatch and weave fine silk as they feed, so spotting these silken strands or tents at the base of the turf is a direct clue that the pest is active. This damage also shows up as ragged, brown patches where blades have been stripped, often with frass (insect droppings) nearby, reinforcing that feeding is occurring right at the soil line. Other signs described point to different problems—drought-stressed leaves come from water issues, root girdling suggests root-feeding insects deeper in the root zone, and bark chewing on trunks is typical of woody plants, not turf. So the silk webbing near the soil is the most reliable indicator of sod webworm activity.

Sod webworms leave a distinctive sign: silk webbing near the soil surface where the larvae feed just inside the leaf blades. The caterpillars hide in the thatch and weave fine silk as they feed, so spotting these silken strands or tents at the base of the turf is a direct clue that the pest is active. This damage also shows up as ragged, brown patches where blades have been stripped, often with frass (insect droppings) nearby, reinforcing that feeding is occurring right at the soil line. Other signs described point to different problems—drought-stressed leaves come from water issues, root girdling suggests root-feeding insects deeper in the root zone, and bark chewing on trunks is typical of woody plants, not turf. So the silk webbing near the soil is the most reliable indicator of sod webworm activity.