Sod Web Worm

Common Name

Sob Webworm

Seasons of Activity

Late spring and early summer.

Areas of Plant Affected

Foliage

Scientific Name

Herpetogramma licarsisalis

Key Distinguishing Feature

Sod webworm is a relatively thick caterpillar up to 25mm long with a pale green-brown body that is marked with characteristic dark spots along its length. When mature the adults become a slender bodied moth with a wingspan of 2.5cm. Their wings are grey with black spots and transverse dark wavy lines.

Female sod webworms moths drop their non adhesive eggs onto turf while flying at night. The eggs fall into the thatch and hatch within 10 days.Upon hatching most larvae burrow into the thatch and conceal themselves with particles or debris.

These larvae remain concealed during the day and wander out at night to feed. By late spring or early summer the young adult moths emerge and fly just above the turf. These moths are especially active at dusk.

Key Products for Control:

Acelepryn Liquid - 15mL/100sqm, in 6-10Ltrs water, then water into soil.

Acelepryn GR - 1.5Kg/100sqm, then water into soil.

Rumbler - 12-44mL/100sqm