Tropical sod webworm (Lepidoptera: Crambidae): A pest of warm season turfgrasses

Abstract

Larvae of Herpetogramma species (commonly called webworms, sod webworms, or grass webworms) are widely distributed throughout North America, Eurasia, Australia, New Zealand, Central and South America. Tropical sod webworm, Herpetogramma phaeopteralis (Guenée), larvae are among the most destructive pests of warm-season turfgrasses in the southeastern United States, Caribbean, and central America, especially on sod farms and newly established sod, lawns, athletic fields, and golf courses. Larval feeding affects the esthetics, vigour, photosynthesis, and density of turfgrass. Symptoms of infestation appear as notched and ragged grass blades with damaged areas in lawn appearing as small brown patches of closely mowed grass. Heavy infestations allow the ingress of weeds. Current control recommendations against tropical sod webworm include several cultural methods (including dethatching and cultivar selection) and the foliar application of chemical insecticides against larval stages.Wesummarize the seasonal biology, taxonomy, and IPM options of this important pest.