Lawn Grubs and Armyworms: How to Identify and Eliminate These Destructive Lawn Pests

Maintaining a lush, healthy lawn requires more than just watering and mowing—it also means defending your turf from underground and surface-feeding pests. Two of the most damaging invaders are lawn grubs and armyworms. These pests can turn a green, thriving lawn into a patchy wasteland in just days if left unchecked.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to recognize the early signs of infestation, understand the life cycles of these pests, and implement professional-grade solutions to eliminate them—using effective insecticide options trusted by turf managers and property owners alike.

What Are Lawn Grubs?

Lawn grubs are the larval stage of beetles—most commonly the African Black Beetle. After beetles lay their eggs beneath the soil surface, the larvae emerge and begin feeding on turfgrass roots. These white, C-shaped grubs can be devastating to healthy turf, quickly severing roots and causing entire sections of lawn to lift away like loose carpet.

Because they feed below the surface, damage often goes unnoticed until irregular brown patches appear and the grass becomes soft or spongy underfoot. Grub activity peaks during warm, moist conditions, especially after rainfall.

What Are Armyworms?

Armyworms are the caterpillar stage of a moth species that targets lawns, sports fields, and grass pastures. True to their name, armyworms move in large groups, consuming everything in their path. Their bodies typically display three pale stripes running the length of the back, regardless of body color.

Armyworms feed on grass blades, often overnight, creating scalloped patches or defoliated areas that appear suddenly. Eggs are typically laid in clusters, hatching within 1–2 weeks. The larvae hide in the thatch layer during the day and emerge in the evening to feed.

Effective Insecticides for Lawn Grub and Armyworm Control

When a lawn is under active pest attack, fast and targeted chemical intervention becomes essential. Fortunately, a range of insecticides is available to help you eliminate both root-feeding grubs and foliage-damaging armyworms—without compromising turf health when applied correctly.

Key Active Ingredients to Look For

Application Guidance

• Timing matters: Apply treatments in the late afternoon or early evening, when armyworms are active near the surface.

• Irrigation helps: Watering before and after application can enhance soil penetration and product uptake, especially for grub-targeting insecticides.

• Repeat if necessary: For heavy infestations, a second treatment may be required after 2–3 weeks depending on pest pressure and product residual strength.

• Rotate actives: Avoid resistance by rotating between chemical groups—e.g., alternate between pyrethroids and diamides (like chlorantraniliprole).

POMAIS Product Solutions

As a manufacturer and bulk supplier, POMAIS offers professional insecticide formulations designed specifically for turf and garden pest control. We support:

• OEM/ODM services for turf maintenance distributors and retail brands

• Multiple formats including SC, EC, GR, and WG

• Active ingredient options including Bifenthrin, Permethrin, and Chlorantraniliprole

• Custom concentration and packaging options

• Export-ready documentation (COA, MSDS, labels) and shipping logistics

In the next section, we’ll help you choose the best formulation based on your turf type, infestation level, and treatment goals.

Choosing the Right Formulation: Liquid vs Granular vs Systemic

Not all insecticide formulations work the same way—selecting the right one for your lawn, infestation scale, and application capacity can greatly improve treatment success and cost efficiency. At POMAIS, we provide multiple options to meet both professional and residential needs.

1. Liquid Formulations (SC / EC)

Best for: Quick knockdown, surface pests like armyworms
Advantages:

• Easy to mix and spray with backpack or boom equipment

• Provides fast contact kill on exposed insects

• Suitable for spot treatment or full-area coverage
  Application Tip: Apply in the late afternoon when caterpillars are actively feeding; ensure thorough leaf coverage.

2. Granular Formulations (GR)

Best for: Subsurface grubs, wide-area lawn or garden coverage
Advantages:

• Simple to apply with a spreader—no mixing required

• Ideal for clients without spray equipment

• More consistent coverage over large, uneven terrain
  Application Tip: Water in immediately after application to help granules dissolve and move into the root zone where grubs are active.

3. Systemic Formulations (Soil-active or Root-absorbed)

Best for: Long-term protection and hidden pests like white grubs or billbugs
Advantages:

• Translocated throughout plant tissue, protecting from inside out

• Longer residual activity (up to 3–6 months with certain actives)

• Minimal disruption to beneficial insects when used correctly
  Application Tip: Apply before peak egg hatch season (spring or early summer); irrigate to activate uptake.

OEM Options from POMAIS

Whether you're supplying turf contractors, home garden stores, or public maintenance tenders, POMAIS can help you develop a complete product range including:

• Bifenthrin SC / EC and GR

• Permethrin EC

• Chlorantraniliprole GR

• Custom dual-active formulations

• Label customization, bottle and carton design, and regulatory-ready support

In the next section, we’ll look at how to time treatments for maximum effectiveness and how to integrate chemical control with other lawn health practices.

Application Timing and Integrated Pest Prevention

Effective lawn pest control is not just about what you apply—it’s about when and how you apply it. To maximize the results of your insecticide treatments and reduce the chance of reinfestation, timing and integration with good lawn practices are essential.

Optimal Treatment Windows

• Spring to Early Summer: Target the first generation of lawn grub larvae while they’re still small and actively feeding on roots.

• Late Summer to Autumn: Ideal time to address armyworm outbreaks, which peak in warm, humid conditions. Evening applications are most effective due to caterpillar feeding behavior.

• After Rain or Irrigation: Moist soil encourages both grub and caterpillar activity, improving product uptake and efficacy.

• Before Egg Hatch: Use long-residual insecticides like chlorantraniliprole as a preventive barrier before larvae emerge.

Integrated Lawn Health Practices

• Mow at the correct height: Too low weakens turf and increases susceptibility to pest damage.

• Fertilise wisely: Balanced nutrients promote dense root systems, helping turf recover from pest stress.

• Water deeply but infrequently: Encourages strong roots and reduces surface moisture that favors pest survival.

• Monitor regularly: Check for signs of feeding damage, adult moth activity, and turf discoloration.

By combining precise chemical control with proactive turf management, you not only solve current infestations but also build long-term resistance against future outbreaks.

At POMAIS, we’re here to support your full pest management cycle—from bulk formulation and export, to usage recommendations for your clients or retail channels.

POMAIS Insecticide Solutions for Lawn Professionals and Distributors

Whether you're managing sports turf, municipal green space, residential lawns, or retail pesticide distribution, effective pest control starts with reliable chemistry and consistent supply. At POMAIS Agriculture, we specialize in manufacturing and exporting insecticide solutions tailored for lawn grub and armyworm management under various environmental and commercial conditions.

What We Offer

• Active Ingredient Flexibility
  Including Bifenthrin, Permethrin, Chlorantraniliprole, and Imidacloprid-based combinations.

• Diverse Formulation Types
  SC, EC, GR, SL—suitable for foliar spraying, soil soaking, or broadcast spreading.

• OEM & ODM Services
  We support private label projects with customized packaging, dosage adjustments, and regulatory documentation (MSDS, COA, label design).

• Global Distribution Support
  Our logistics team ensures timely delivery, container consolidation, and multilingual compliance for export to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and beyond.

• Technical Guidance
  From dilution ratios to timing recommendations, our technical team assists partners in building credible product lines and end-user confidence.

Ready to Build Your Lawn Protection Portfolio?

Partner with POMAIS to supply turf insecticides that are trusted, compliant, and export-ready. Whether you're launching a new brand or expanding your agricultural input catalog, we provide the tools you need to deliver results in the field—and grow your business.