Florida’s warm, humid climate makes it the perfect place to grow lush, green lawns—but it’s also a paradise for pests
You’re here because you just walked outside to find one of the following:
Yellowing patches in your grass
Strange burrowing tunnels
Entire sections of your lawn mysteriously dead
You now want to know what in the heck is going on!
Chinch bugs, grub worms, sod webworms, and mole crickets are some of the most common culprits, and they can turn a healthy yard into a patchy, brown mess before you even realize what’s happening.
We know Florida lawns because we live here.I’ve seen firsthand how frustrating it can be to fight off these relentless pests—especially when DIY solutions don’t cut it.
Top 6 Florida Lawn Pests (and How to Spot Them)
Florida’s year-round warmth and humidity make it a breeding ground for lawn pests. If you’ve noticed brown patches, thinning grass, or strange insect activity, chances are your yard has some unwanted visitors. Identifying the problem early is key to protecting your lawn before the damage gets out of control.
Here’s what to look for when diagnosing the six most common Florida lawn pests—and how to stop them.
Chinch Bugs
Image Source -> Utah State Extension
Signs: Yellowing or browning patches in St. Augustine grass, often in sunny, dry areas. Grass may appear wilted, even with proper watering.
The Problem: These tiny, sap-sucking pests drain the life from your lawn by feeding on individual blades of grass, causing widespread damage. They thrive in hot weather and dry conditions, meaning Florida’s climate is the perfect breeding ground.
How to Spot Them: Chinch bugs are small, about 3/16 of an inch long, with black bodies and white wings. They tend to cluster together, moving through thatch layers near the base of your grass.
Prevention & Treatment: Proper lawn care—like regular mowing and deep watering—can help prevent infestations. But once chinch bugs take hold, they’re tough to eliminate without professional pest control. Hoffer Pest Solutions offers targeted treatments to stop these pests before they destroy your entire lawn.
Unique Insight: If you’re considering swapping out your lawn for native, eco-friendly ground cover to reduce chinch bug risk, Florida law is on your side. FL Statute §373.185 allows homeowners to install drought-tolerant landscaping, even if their HOA objects.
Mole Crickets
Image Source -> Aggie Turf
Signs: Soft, spongy soil, grass that lifts easily, and small mounds of dirt across your lawn.
The Problem: Unlike typical crickets, mole crickets tunnel underground, uprooting grass and severing roots as they dig. This weakens the lawn’s foundation, leading to widespread damage.
How to Spot Them: Mole crickets are about 1.5 inches long, light brown, with large, shovel-like front legs designed for burrowing. They’re nocturnal, so they do most of their damage at night.
Prevention & Treatment: A simple soap drench test (mix 2 tablespoons of dish soap with a gallon of water and pour it over an area of affected grass) will flush mole crickets to the surface. If you see more than a few, it’s time for treatment. Natural predators like Larra wasps, which can be attracted by planting partridge pea, help keep mole crickets in check.
Pro Tip: If left untreated, mole crickets will attract predators like raccoons and armadillos, which dig up your lawn searching for food—causing even more destruction.
Sod Webworms
Image Source -> UNH Extension - University of New Hampshire
Signs: Ragged, chewed-up grass blades and thin, uneven patches of turf. Silken webbing may be visible early in the morning.
The Problem: Sod webworms are the larvae of small brown moths that lay their eggs in Florida lawns from spring to fall. These caterpillars hatch and feed aggressively on fresh grass blades, leaving behind weak, scalped areas.
How to Spot Them: The adult moths flutter around the lawn at dusk, while the caterpillars hide in the thatch layer during the day. Look for their characteristic silk webbing in affected areas.
Prevention & Treatment: Keeping your lawn well-maintained with proper fertilization and mowing can help prevent infestations. In severe cases, professional treatments may be necessary to eliminate these pests before they spread further.
Grub Worms
Image Source -> Extension Entomology - Purdue University
Signs: Soft, spongy soil, brown or thinning grass, and increased raccoon or bird activity (they dig up lawns to feast on the grubs).
The Problem: Grub worms are the larvae of beetles like Japanese beetles and May/June bugs. They feed on grass roots, causing large dead patches that can lift up like a carpet.
How to Spot Them: Dig up a small section of grass and inspect the soil underneath. If you see several white, curled-up larvae with brown heads, you likely have a grub infestation.
Prevention & Treatment: Milky spore and beneficial nematodes are natural solutions that target grub worms without harming beneficial insects. If an infestation is severe, professional treatments may be required to restore your lawn’s health.
Helpful Resource - > 4 Signs Grubs Are On Your Lawn
Fall Armyworms
Image Source -> Ohioline - The Ohio State University
Signs: Entire sections of grass disappearing overnight, leaving behind bare spots. Grass may look “shaved down” or skeletonized.
The Problem: Fall armyworms consume grass blades at an alarming rate, especially during late summer and early fall. They move in large groups, devouring turf before you even realize they’re there.
How to Spot Them: These caterpillars are greenish-brown with distinctive white stripes running along their bodies. They hide in the thatch layer during the day and feed aggressively at night.
Prevention & Treatment: Bacillus thuringiensis (BT), a natural bacteria, can help control armyworm outbreaks without harming beneficial insects. Keeping your lawn healthy and well-irrigated makes it less attractive to these pests.
Two-Lined Spittlebugs
Image Source -> NC State Extension Publications - NC State University
Signs: Irregular purple or yellow streaks on grass blades, often mistaken for a fungal infection.
The Problem: Two-lined spittlebugs inject toxins into grass as they feed, weakening the plant and causing discoloration. They’re most active in warm, humid months.
How to Spot Them: These small insects have black bodies with two red or orange lines across their backs. Their nymphs create foamy, spit-like masses at the base of the grass.
Prevention & Treatment: Avoid overwatering and excessive fertilization, which create the damp conditions these pests love. If an infestation is severe, insecticidal treatments may be needed, but be cautious—overusing pyrethroids can actually make the problem worse by killing beneficial insects.
Biological Controls: Let Nature Do the Work
A healthy lawn isn’t just about the grass—it’s about the ecosystem beneath it. Introducing biological controls can help keep pest populations in check without disrupting the natural balance of your yard.
Nematodes for Grubs & Mole Crickets
Image Source -> University of Maryland Extension
Beneficial nematodes (Steinernema spp.) are microscopic worms that actively seek out and destroy grubs and mole crickets without harming earthworms or beneficial insects. These naturally occurring predators enter pest larvae, release bacteria, and stop them before they mature into destructive adults.
Unlike chemical treatments, nematodes are harmless to pets, people, and pollinators—making them an ideal solution for Florida homeowners.
Attracting Birds for Pest Control
Many common lawn pests, including armyworms, sod webworms, and mole crickets, are a food source for native Florida birds. Creating a bird-friendly landscape by planting firebush, beautyberry, or native wildflowers provides shelter and encourages insect-hunting birds like bluebirds, wrens, and robins to visit your yard.
This natural predator-prey relationship keeps pest populations down without the need for chemicals.
Encouraging Predatory Insects
Not all bugs are bad for your lawn! Ladybugs, lacewings, and assassin bugs actively feed on aphids, caterpillars, and other damaging pests. Planting milkweed, coreopsis, and goldenrod can attract these beneficial insects and help create a self-sustaining pest control system.
DIY Remedies: Simple, Safe, and Effective
For homeowners who prefer a hands-on approach, several DIY solutions can help manage pests before they become a major issue.
Soap Flush Test for Mole Crickets & Chinch Bugs
If you suspect mole crickets or chinch bugs are wreaking havoc on your lawn, try this simple test:
Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap with 1 gallon of water and pour it over a small patch of affected grass.
If pests are present, they’ll emerge from the soil within minutes.
This test doesn’t just confirm an infestation—it also helps dislodge surface-level pests, reducing their numbers naturally.
Neem Oil & Cinnamon for Small Infestations
For a chemical-free treatment, neem oil and cinnamon can work wonders:
Neem oil disrupts the feeding and reproduction cycle of pests like aphids, armyworms, and sod webworms, preventing them from spreading.
Cinnamon has natural antifungal and insect-repelling properties that help protect against fungal infections and minor insect outbreaks.
Simply mix either neem oil or cinnamon with water and apply directly to affected areas for a gentle but effective pest solution.
Diatomaceous Earth for Soil-Dwelling Pests
This natural, non-toxic powder can be sprinkled across your lawn to kill soft-bodied insects like grubs, fleas, and mites. It works by dehydrating pests upon contact while remaining safe for pets and beneficial insects when applied correctly.
Lawn Alternatives: Rethinking Traditional Grass
One of the best ways to prevent pest issues is to reduce the conditions that attract them in the first place. Traditional turfgrass requires constant maintenance, watering, and pest control—but switching to native groundcovers can eliminate pest problems while reducing water and chemical use.
Perennial Peanut
Image Source -> UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions - University of Florida
This low-maintenance ground cover is a drought-tolerant alternative to turfgrass that naturally resists pests. However, it goes dormant in the winter, turning brown. To keep your lawn green year-round, overseeding with frogfruit (Phyla nodiflora) can fill in the gaps while providing pollinator benefits.
Sunshine Mimosa
For low-traffic areas, sunshine mimosa (Mimosa strigillosa) is an excellent alternative. It spreads quickly, produces vibrant pink flowers, and requires minimal watering and no pesticides. Plus, it’s hardy enough to withstand Florida’s climate while naturally deterring weeds and pests.
Pro Tip: Florida law protects eco-friendly landscaping choices! FL Statute §373.185 allows homeowners to install drought-resistant alternatives even if an HOA objects—so you have the legal right to make sustainable changes to your lawn.
Preventative Lawn Care
A strong, healthy lawn is your best defense against pests. While many homeowners focus on treating infestations after they appear, prevention is key to keeping common Florida lawn pests—like chinch bugs, grubs, and armyworms—at bay.
You can create a lawn that naturally resists pests and thrives year-round by following smart soil practices, proper mowing techniques, and mindful fertilization.
Soil & Watering Best Practices
Florida’s sandy soil can be a challenge for homeowners trying to maintain a lush lawn. Unlike heavy clay soils found in other parts of the country, Florida’s soil drains quickly and struggles to retain nutrients. The good news? A few simple adjustments can dramatically improve your lawn’s resilience.
Amend Sandy Soil with Compost—Skip the Topsoil
Adding organic compost is one of the best ways to improve Florida’s fast-draining, nutrient-poor soil. Compost boosts moisture retention, improves soil structure, and encourages beneficial microbes—all of which help grass develop deeper, stronger roots.
Unlike topsoil, which can be inconsistent in quality, compost provides long-term health benefits without compacting the soil.
Water Deeply, Not Frequently
Overwatering weakens your lawn’s natural defenses by encouraging shallow root growth and making it more vulnerable to pests and disease. Instead, follow this simple watering routine:
Water deeply twice a week, applying about ½ to ¾ inch of water per session to encourage deep root growth.
Water in the early morning to prevent evaporation and reduce the risk of fungal growth. Avoid watering in the evening—excess moisture overnight creates the perfect conditions for sod webworms and fungal infections.
Pro Tip: If you’re unsure whether your lawn needs water, try the footprint test—step on the grass and see if it springs back. If it stays flattened, it’s time to water.
Mowing & Thatch Management
Mowing isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about keeping your lawn pest-resistant. The right mowing height and thatch management routine can prevent pests from settling in while keeping your grass strong and healthy.
Set Your Mower to the Right Height
Different grass types have different ideal heights, and cutting too short can stress your lawn and make it more susceptible to pests:
St. Augustine grass: Keep it at 3-4 inches—cutting too short weakens its ability to recover from chinch bug attacks.
Zoysia grass: Maintain at 2-3 inches for best health.
Dethatch When Necessary
Thatch is the layer of dead grass and organic material that builds up between the soil and the grass blades. A small amount of thatch (½ inch or less) is actually beneficial because it helps retain moisture and nutrients. However, excessive thatch creates a hiding spot for pests like sod webworms and chinch bugs.
Check your lawn’s thatch layer yearly—if it’s more than ¾ inch thick, it’s time to dethatch.
The best time to dethatch is late spring or early summer when your lawn is actively growing.
Pro Tip: Instead of bagging your grass clippings, leave them on the lawn—they break down quickly in
Florida’s climate, adding nutrients back into the soil without contributing to thatch buildup.
Fertilization Do’s and Don’ts
Fertilizing properly helps your lawn fight off pests naturally. However, the wrong approach—like using too much nitrogen—can actually attract pests and create long-term damage.
Use Milorganite for Slow-Release, Pet-Safe Nutrition
Milorganite is a slow-release, organic fertilizer that provides nutrients without overstimulating growth. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, which can lead to weak, overly lush growth (a prime target for chinch bugs and aphids), Milorganite feeds your lawn gradually, promoting strong roots and healthy blades. Plus, it’s safe for kids and pets, making it a great alternative to chemical-heavy products.
Avoid Excess Nitrogen to Prevent Pest Problems
Overloading your lawn with nitrogen encourages excessive, tender growth, which is highly attractive to pests like chinch bugs, armyworms, and aphids. Instead of dumping on high-nitrogen fertilizer, follow these guidelines:
Apply fertilizer in moderation, ideally in spring and fall when the lawn is actively growing.
Use balanced or slow-release formulas rather than quick-release, high-nitrogen products.
Consider organic alternatives like compost or seaweed-based fertilizers, which improve soil health without triggering rapid, pest-prone growth.
Why Choose Hoffer Pest Solutions?
A healthy lawn doesn’t just happen—it takes the right care, expertise, and protection to keep it lush, green, and pest-free year-round.
At Hoffer Pest Solutions, we go beyond basic treatments to provide comprehensive, eco-friendly lawn and pest care designed for Florida homeowners. Whether you’re battling chinch bugs, grubs, sod webworms, or looking for long-term preventative solutions, our TurfShield, YardShield, and pest control services have you covered.
All-in-One Lawn & Pest Care
Why juggle multiple lawn care and pest control companies when you can have one trusted team handle it all? With Hoffer Pest Solutions, you get:
✔ Complete Lawn & Pest Protection – Our TurfShield and YardShield plans provide year-round protection from common lawn pests, weeds, and diseases—so you never have to worry about surprise infestations.
✔ Custom Treatment Plans – Every lawn is different. We tailor our treatments based on your grass type, soil condition, and pest pressure to ensure maximum effectiveness.
✔ One Company, One Solution – Save time and money with a single provider for your lawn care and pest control needs.