Fall armyworms are caterpillars that feed in a moving front and can strip a North Texas lawn overnight. They arrive in late summer and fall, usually after a wet stretch, and the damage is so fast that most people assume the lawn suddenly died rather than that something ate it.
What Do Armyworms Look Like?
Green to brown caterpillars up to about 1.5 inches, with stripes down the body and an inverted pale Y marking on the head capsule. They feed mostly at dusk and dawn and hide down in the turf during the heat of the day.
- Damage advances as a visible line across the lawn, hence the name
- Lawn looks scalped or mowed too short overnight
- Birds working the lawn heavily is often the first sign
- Check at dusk with a flashlight, or soak a patch with soapy water to bring them up
Are Armyworms Dangerous?
Harmless to people and pets. The threat is entirely to the lawn, and it is fast: a heavy infestation can take a healthy Bermuda lawn down to stems in one or two nights.
Why Is My Yard Full of Armyworms?
They migrate north each year and arrive on weather fronts, so pressure varies year to year. Wet late summers produce the worst outbreaks. Well-fertilized, lush Bermuda is the preferred target, which means the best-kept lawns on the street often get hit first.
How Do You Get Rid of Armyworms?
Speed matters more than with any other lawn insect. If you see them, treat the same day rather than waiting for a scheduled visit. Because they feed on the blade surface rather than the roots, treatment is applied to the foliage and works quickly.
Same-day armyworm response plus chinch bug and grub treatment, covered by our year-round plans.
See Lawn Insect Control
