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No matter how lovingly and thoroughly you care for your lawn, there's a chance unwanted insects are still creeping in and destroying your garden. Although pest control is only a call away, it's always best if you can recognize signs early on so you can prevent more damage. Below are three common nuisances that may be living in your backyard.

Common Lawn Pests to Look Out For

1. Chinch Bugs

If patches of grass are quickly turning brown and wilting in your garden, you may have a chinch bug infestation. These reddish-brown bugs turn black as they grow, and can also be identified through their shiny, white wings and the white bands on their backs. They can spread fast and kill an entire lawn within days.

To check if chinch bugs are plaguing your lawn, bury a plastic container three inches into the soil, fill it with water, and leave it for five minutes. If you come back to find reddish-brown or black insects floating on the water, call pest control.

Insecticidal soaps can do an excellent job of quickly preventing chinch bug infestations. Also, consider cultivating resistant plants like Floratam or endophytic grasses. 

2. Billbugs

Billbugs are brown or black weevils that grow up to ¾ inch in size and may lay their orangish-brown white larvae on your lawn. While the adults feed on grass stems, the worms cause more severe damage as they eat the plants' roots.

pest controlIf your dead grasses break off easily and you spot some sawdust-like materials, these are telltale signs you have a billbug infestation. Apart from using billbug-resistant endophytic grasses, you can also prevent this problem by aerating your lawn. To do this, drill small holes in your garden so air, water, and nutrients can penetrate the grass and strengthen it from the roots up.

3. White Grubs

These cream-colored, soft-bodied creatures are the larvae of scarab beetles and are about the size of a quarter. They eat the grass's roots, causing them to roll up like a carpet. To confirm an infestation, cut a 12-inch x 12-inch part of the turf and dig four inches down. If you see ten or more maggots, call for pest control services. You can also ask them to apply a synthetic pyrethroid product every three to four weeks to control the adult beetle population.


For effective pest control, trust the Department of Agriculture-licensed technicians of Taylor's Weed & Pest Control in Hobbs, NM. With more than 40 years of experience, they also specialize in termite treatment, wildlife control, and rodent control. The company likewise garners recognition for its top-notch lawn care services, which include commercial and residential weed control, tree pruning, and shrub trimming. Give them a call at (575) 492-9247 or visit their website for more details on their services.

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