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Sod Webworm
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Sod Webworm

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Crambidae

Pest Status: Sod webworms can become serious pests of turfgrass and other plants.

Appearance: Adults are buff-colored, about 1/2-inch long with snout-like projections extending forward from the head. At rest, a webworm folds its wings around the body, giving it a cigar-shaped appearance. A larva is gray to tan with small, dark spots on the body.

Life Cycle: Sod webworm larvae overwinter several inches deep in the soil. In the spring, the larvae move upward and feed on new grass growth. In the summer, the larvae bury deeper into the soil to pupate. After two weeks, the new adult moths emerge at night to mate and lay eggs.

Where to Collect: Sod webworms are commonly found in well-maintained turfgrass, often in residential lawns.