How To Get Rid Of Armyworms Naturally? (Natural Methods For Eliminating Them From Your Lawn)

Have you ever wondered how lush green gardens turn into a mess of large brown patches within just a few days? 

Well, Armyworms are usually the ones to blame and in this post, I’ll show you how to get rid of Armyworms, naturally!

These armyworms survive by feeding on the green grasses/leaves. 

So, it is essential to get rid of these worms as you’ll know they can damage lawns, gardens, and pretty much everything green that they can use as food. 

If you want to steer clear of chemical methods and go for natural ways to get rid of these armyworms, keep reading! 

Natural Methods For Getting Rid of Armyworms

Want to turn some heads in the neighborhood with the brightest and the greenest lawn? 

Sure, if you’re looking for an immediate remedy to Armyworms, you can go ahead with synthetic pesticides, but that could damage your garden in the long run. 

But if you don’t intend to use any sort of chemicals, then you can get organically rid of armyworms using the following methods:

1. Trim the Turf

The shorter the grass of your garden is, the better, as it helps reduce the number of worms in your yard. 

When moths are in their progenitive instar stage, short grasses are not ideal for laying the eggs as it is more prone to predators. 

Further trimming down the grass destroys the laid eggs. 

And, just in case your lawn is already infested by the armyworms, shearing the grass down would undoubtedly help by cutting down the food supply of armyworms.  

2. Use Natural Pesticides

You can put natural pesticides in use to eliminate armyworms. 

For example, nematodes are incredibly beneficial in exterminating armyworms by eating them from the inside out. 

Nematodes are microscopic organisms that feed on over 220 different species of pests. 

There are a variety of species of nematodes, so to exterminate the armyworms primarily. Pick from the following species.

• Heterorhabditis Indica
• Steinernema carpocapsae
• Heterorhabditis bacteriophora

These specific species of nematodes can get rid of armyworms and other minor pests within two days in certain situations.  

Make sure to keep these specific tips in mind before using nematodes for efficient results.

• It’s critical to know about the soil type, as it could influence the rate at which nematodes work.
• Nematodes are living organisms that are highly sensitive to sunlight, so it is ideal to apply them early in the morning or later in the afternoon. 
• It is essential to dampen the soil before and after applying nematodes. 
• Keep checking your garden and reapply nematodes every fourteen days if the armyworms still survive. 

3. Bacillus thuringiensis 

You might have heard about Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) if you are a gardening enthusiast. 

It is a naturally occurring bacteria that grows in the soil and has no harmful effects on the environment. 

Also, It is commonly used in agricultural practices to control pests. 

Besides, BT is not toxic to humans, pets, and other pollinating agents; this makes it ideal to use against armyworms, as it is usually available in various products. 

There are thousands of unique strains of this bacteria which work on a diverse spectrum of insects and pests. 

So, make sure to purchase the Bacillus Thuringiensis ssp. kurstaki strain, which targets caterpillars and armyworms explicitly.

Don’t forget to keep a note of these few tips to get rid of armyworms easily using Bacillus Thuringiensis: 

• First of all, immediately apply BT on the grass currently not infested by armyworms. For BT bacterium to work, armyworms have to ingest it. 
• It is critical not to apply Bt products when sun exposure is not at its peak. So make sure to use the products early in the morning or later in the evening hours.
• Unlike nematodes, this bacteria takes a few more days slightly for exterminating armyworms.
• If the armyworm infestation persists, make sure to increase its frequency by applying it once every 7 to 8 days.
• It is evident to store the Bt bacterium products in cool and dry places as it could influence the efficacy of the Bt products.

4. Frost

If none of these methods work on your lawn and the armyworm infestation doesn’t seem to end. 

The first winter frost will destroy the whole population of armyworms, excluding the regions with warm weather like Florida, California, etc. 

But of course, this method is largely out of your control so may not be viable for many!

What Are Armyworms?

This may sound obvious to those who know, but for those who aren’t sure how to identify Armyworms and what is destroying their garden or lawn, this is for you. 

Armyworms, commonly known as caterpillars or white speck moths, are the larval form of an owlet moth. 

These armyworms are common to appear and deteriorate any foliage in just a few days. 

Before knowing all the essential tips to get rid of armyworms naturally to save your beautiful lush green garden, it’s necessary to know about the appearance of armyworms and their various types.

Armyworms are caterpillar larvae that undergo various larval stages for maturation. 

These stages are called instars. 

Initially, in their larval instar stage, they are 1.5 – 2 inches long and have an assorted variety of red, green, yellow, or brown stripes all over their body. 

The following are the types of armyworms that are easy to find all over the United States.

1. True Armyworm:

These are the most common and true type of armyworm you can find; these are primarily seen in the extreme east of the Rocky Mountains. 

These worms are green in color with variations of brown and multiple stripes of white-orange with yellow-orange heads. 

2. Fall Armyworms.

These are common to find on the regular in your lawns or backyards. 

Fall armyworms are pastel brown in color with dark stripes on the sides, and these are about 1-1.5 inches in length. 

3. Southern Armyworms

These worms are mainly discovered in the southern parts of the US. These have a dark green body covered in yellow-white stripes. 

In addition, their heads are of a peculiar deep red color.

4. Beet Armyworms

With the regular import of shipments, these worms came from Asia and are all over the United States. Beet armyworms are subtle green in color with a darker little head.

Conclusion

When it’s all said and done, armyworms infest and damage your lawn, garden, etc. 

So to get rid of them and to have a fresh garden you should opt for natural methods which can effectively kill these armyworms. 

You can follow any of the methods and get effective results.

We hope you had a great time reading this blog and found it insightful.