Fun Fact Friday – Billbugs
- Billbugs are a type of weevil or “snout beetle.”
- Adults usually overwinter in leaf litter and thatch.
- Billbugs are a pest that is endemic to all species of grass.
- Most lawn damage occurs near evergreen shrubbery.
- Lawn damage is most severe during summer drought stress.
- Adult female Billbugs cut small holes in the stems of plants and insert their eggs.
- Billbug activity increases from late April through May when temperatures exceed 65°F.
- Adult Billbugs are often noticed walking across driveways and sidewalks during late summer or spring.
- Billbugs cause significant feeding damage during the larval stage. Before feeding on the roots, the Larvae tunnel through the stem creating a sawdust thatch.
- Billbug damage can appear as spotty brown patches of dying grass scattered throughout the lawn from late June through August.