End in sight for West Tenn. armyworm invasion, experts say
This video is no longer available.
SOUTH JACKSON — The armyworm infestation across West Tennessee is finally winding down, which is good news for folks whose lawns are affected. The fall armyworm infestation is bigger than ever across West Tennessee. It is not just lawns — high school football fields are being destroyed too. Lucky for South Side High School, their head football coach Jason Driggers took action before it was too late. “I called the local feed supply store, and they got me hooked up with stuff called Cyonara. We sprayed that down before the armyworms got to our field.” Driggers said. Armyworms are something you can tackle yourself at home too. According to Scott Stewart with West Tennessee Agriculture Research and Education Center, pesticides and insecticides like “Sevin Dust” can be purchased at home-improvement stores. They can be applied once or twice to eliminate the problem. “You know, you lose grass and you’re more likely to get mud,” said Scott Stwart, extension entomologist for the University of Tennessee. “People are concerned that if you have to spray those armyworms that they wanna make sure the insecticides are safe for the players. You need to follow label instructions.” Brown spots from armyworms will be evident on the field the rest of the season. But just like on your lawn, the grass should grow back next spring. This is because armyworms only eat the blades of grass, not the roots. Bermudagrass, the grass the worms prefer to feed on, is also resilient in its growth habits. “I’m not worried about the long-term implications, and they don’t overwinter in this area,” Stewart said. “So there is really no reason to believe this problem will repeat as bad as it did next year.” Experts say even if you do not spray the armyworms munching away at your lawn, they should begin to die off with cooling temperatures.
