If your once-lush lawn is suddenly looking more like a bad hair day than a green carpet, you might not have a watering problem—you might have a bug problem. Here in Mississauga, we’re no strangers to these common lawn insects that love to chew, suck, and burrow their way through your turf. And while some bugs are just passing through, others are downright destructive.
Let’s shine a light on the most common lawn pests in Mississauga, how to spot them, and what to do before they turn your backyard into an all-you-can-eat buffet.
1. Grubs: The Underground Wrecking Crew
Grubs are the larvae of beetles (like European chafers and Japanese beetles), and they’ve got one job: eat. Specifically, they feast on the roots of your grass, which causes your lawn to wilt, brown, and peel up like a bad toupee.
Signs you’ve got grubs:
- Patches of dead or spongy grass
- Increased raccoon or skunk activity (they dig for grubs like its treasure)
- Grass that lifts easily like a piece of sod
What to do:
Professional grub control services can save your lawn before the damage becomes severe. At Dr. Green, we time our treatments based on grub life cycles, ensuring the little root-munchers don’t stand a chance.
2. Chinch Bugs: The Tiny Vampires of Turf
They may be small, but chinch bugs pack a punch. These sap-sucking insects are most active during hot, dry summers and can turn green grass into brittle brown patches in no time.
How to spot chinch bug damage:
- Irregular yellowing or browning starting in sunny areas
- Grass looks drought-stressed but doesn’t respond to watering
- If you part the grass and look closely, you may see the tiny black-and-white bugs crawling around
The fix:
Early detection is key. Our Mississauga lawn care programs include surface insect treatments that target chinch bugs and other turf-destroying pests, helping you stay ahead of an infestation.
3. Sod Webworms: The Silent Shredders
These larvae of lawn moths quietly chew their way through your lawn, often leaving brown patches with small holes and webbing. The damage tends to show up mid-summer and can be mistaken for drought stress.
Clues you’ve got sod webworms:
- Small moths flying up as you mow
- Chewed grass blades or tiny green pellets (worm droppings)
- Brown spots that expand quickly in warm weather
Control tips:
Mowing regularly and watering deeply can help, but for bigger problems, insect control treatments are your best bet.
Healthy Lawn, Fewer Pests
The best defense against common lawn insects? A healthy, thick lawn that can stand its ground (literally). At Dr. Green, our Mississauga lawn care programs are designed not just to fix damage, but to strengthen your turf with the right balance of nutrients, weed control, and grub control services—because a strong lawn is a less tasty target.
