What kills Billbug larvae?

Sevin® Insect Killer Granules kill and control adult billbugs and their larvae above and below the soil line. Apply the granules with a regular lawn spreader, and then water immediately to release the active ingredients into the soil.

What does bluegrass Billbug look like?

Bluegrass Billbug. Like all billbug species, bluegrass billbug adults can be easily recognized by the presence of a long snout on the front of the head. They are 7-8 mm long and gray to black in color, but they are sometimes coated with soil making them appear brown or beige.

What is the Bill bug?

The bluedgrass billbug, Sphenophorus parvulus, is a weevil that occasionally causes extensive damage to home lawns in Michigan. These beetles are named because of their long snout or “bill” which ends in a set of small mandibles or jaws.

What causes Bill bugs?

To the unsuspecting homeowner, the above lawn may appear to be suffering from drought stress when, in fact, it is showing signs of billbug damage. A billbug is a weevil or snout-beetle that, in its larval form, can cause damage to your lawn and is often misdiagnosed as drought stress.

What animals eat billbugs?

Birds, predatory wasps, and skunks often feed on billbugs.

What are grubs in lawn?

Lawn Grubs, often called White Grubs, are the immature form of different Scarab Beetles, such as Japanese Beetles, June “bugs” (beetles) or the European Chafers. They feed on grass roots (and organic matter in the soil), causing sections of grass in the lawn to die.

What is a bluegrass Billbug?

Bluegrass billbug (Sphenophorous parvulus) is a beetle, belonging to the family Curculionidae. It is a root-feeding insect found on lawns and turf grass. Billbugs can be seen near sidewalks, driveways and other sources of heat. Damage is most commonly seen during July and August.

How do you prevent bill bugs?

Your best bet for billbug prevention is to use a billbug-specific insecticide. This works to kill larvae before they have the chance to destroy your turf.

Are Billbugs poisonous?

How Serious Are Billbugs? While they can be serious pests of corn and grasses important to agriculture, they are harmless to pets and people. The most likely problem encountered by the homeowner is damage to garden crops and lawn grasses. However, a large infestation may bring other pests to the yard.

Do Bill bugs fly?

Although bluegrass billbugs rarely fly, they may rapidly spread through continuous lawns of a neighborhood. Varieties of turf resistant to billbug damage are available and should be considered when establishing a new lawn in an area with a history of billbug problems.

What kind of damage does a billbug do?

Damage – Adult billbugs are weevils and have jaws at the end of a relative long snout. The snout enables adults to feed into stems of corn seedlings and excavate inner tissues. If seedlings are small, feeding will occur on meristem tissue and result in serious damage or plant death.

What kind of insecticide to use on billbugs?

At-planting insecticides – In areas of high billbug concentration, the use of an at-planting seed treatment or T-banded granular insecticide is essential. The highest labeled rate of insecticides labeled for use on billbugs is necessary.

How can I get rid of billbugs in my lawn?

They can destroy an entire lawn. Small damaged areas usually recover if the billbug larvae are killed. Water and fertilize the lawn to stimulate new growth. Reseed or resod large areas. Maintain proper soil moisture and lawn fertilization.

What to do about billbugs and white grubs?

Insect parasitic nematodes are a biological control option for both white grubs and billbugs. Lawns that are adequately watered and in good condition can often tolerate much of the injury caused by these insects.