Control of harmful pests on and around your lawn

Many insects love grass. That is why no lawn is entirely safe from these tiny pests. As soon as you notice a deterioration of your lawn, do not hesitate to call the Spray Green technicians. They can evaluate your lawn, identify the type of insect, or other cause of deterioration including fungal diseases, dryness, etc. and can recommend the appropriate methods of intervention. 

White Worms

The white worm is the larva of the common beetle, the European beetle or the Japanese scarab. It reaches its adult size at the beginning of the summer and then transforms into a beetle. The beetle then emerges from the ground and walks over plants, flowers and fruits before laying eggs on the grassy areas. The new larvae then feed of the roots of the grass.

If your lawn is infected with white worms, you will notice the following damages at the end of the summer or during the fall:

• Yellow patches on the lawn
• A sponge-like texture underfoot
• The lawn lifts easily, like a carpet
• Holes in the lawn created by predators that eat the white worms (skunks, raccoons)

As the treatments are more effective on the eggs and the young larvae, it is not recommended to treat white worm infestations during the spring, when they are at the end stage of their growth.

Here are the preventative steps to follow to avoid the spread of white worms:

If preventative measures fail, call Spray Green.

Good to know: It is normal to have some white worms living in a well-maintained lawn. If your lawn is showing signs of deterioration even after you have followed all of the preventative methods above, contact Spray Green. Our technicians can help you, and can apply a preventative treatment against white worms as of July.

Sod Webworms

The sod webworm is a small, cream-colored night butterfly. It flies above the lawn during the spring to lay its eggs. When the eggs hatch, tiny caterpillars slip out and move around your lawn all summer long. You will notice the presence of this insect by the following signs:

• The appearance of silky masses below the lawn’s surface
• A yellow or brown coloring of your grass
• The grass rips out easily

To prevent the appearance of sod webworms and their caterpillars, follow these steps:

If these preventative measures fail, call Spray Green.

Chinch bug

This tiny insect, also known as Blissus leucopterus, is red, orange or black in color and is approximately 2mm long. Active as of June and up until the fall, the chinch bug damages your lawn by chewing the blades of grass to suck their juice. Contrary to the white worm and the sod webworm, the chinch bug does not eat the roots of the grass, so the damaged blades of grass remain rooted in the soil. You will notice the following damages:

• Irregular yellow patches that may be confused with dryness

Without intervention, the grass will take on a brown color before dying completely.

Here are the preventative steps to follow to prevent the appearance of chinch bugs on your lawn:

If preventative measures fail, call Spray Green.

Control of harmful outdoor insects

Treatments against outdoor spiders

Spiders are mostly present around the house, near windows, sheds, patios, fences and around pools. They are not harmful, but some people have an aversion to these insects.

If there are too many spiders present and you cannot tolerate them, contact Spray Green for a treatment.

Treatments against outdoor ants

Ants are not harmful for your lawn, but they can become invasive and may infiltrate the house through cracks in the walls or foundation. They are generally found on pavement, between patios stones or slabs and in humid areas. You may also notice the presence of multiple mounds on your lawn.

To prevent the presence of ants outside your residence, follow these preventative steps:

If preventative methods fail and an infestation occurs, contact Spray Green.