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Bugs damaging grass #872665

Asked June 11, 2024, 4:49 PM EDT

I have an infestation of bugs in my lawns. There seems to be 2 main types. One is very small, size of a needle tip, barely visible and white (mite?). The other is bigger, size of a grain of rice, and its pic is attached. Both are extremely abundant, hoping all over as you walk through the grass. The grass with the bugs in it is going brown in the sun even with lots of water (pics attached). I have tried light treatment with soap-detergent but it does not seem to help. I am looking for a kid/pet safe treatment to try to knock down the population and ideally take out eggs too. Thank you!!

Jackson County Oregon

Expert Response

You may have leaf hoppers: This is likely caused by leafhoppers. Leafhoppers are diminutive insects measuring less than one-tenth of an inch in length that attack the leaves of sage and other plants. Leafhoppers actually suck out the sap from leaves, which leaves pale spots that turn brown or bronze over time. Unlike caterpillars, leafhoppers don’t actually leaves holes in the plant’s leaves, just spots. The damage these pests cause initially appears as a collection of small white or yellowish spots that grow larger and merge together as the damage progresses. The leafhopper lays eggs inside the veins and petioles of plant leaves, making them extremely difficult to locate. The insect in the nymph stage has coloring similar to that in the adult stage. Nymph leafhoppers are often found on the underside of leaves near a leaf vein; they are less active than adults and thus easier to spot. Adult specimens are agile and often jump from the plant when disturbed.
Fatty acid salts or insecticidal soaps can be a good choice against leafhoppers. They weaken the outer shell of leafhoppers but are safe to use on your plants and they don’t leave much of a residue which could kill beneficial bugs in your garden. With soaps, coverage is very important as it does not stay on your plant for long, so follow-up applications may be necessary. Another option is Neem Oil. This will leave an unpleasant taste/smell on the leaves. There’s also some evidence Neem oil may be harmful to humans so use with care! That being said, Neem oil is an all-natural remedy that is very effective against many different types of bugs and mold, including leafhoppers. You will need a mister (also called a “One-Hand Pressure Sprayer”) to spray all the leaves evenly, since neem oil and water can separate easily.
You may have lawn fleas: While fleas won’t harm lawns, their presence in lawns can create problems for pets and humans using it. Look for small black insects around your ankles and in pet fur.

Check out this article:

https://solvepestproblems.oregonstate.edu/index.php/lawn-problems/insect-pests


Chris Rusch Replied June 11, 2024, 11:59 PM EDT

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