Armyworm infestation invades West Tennessee

Story Created: Sep 2, 2014 at 5:48 PM CDT

Story Updated: Sep 2, 2014 at 8:19 PM CDT

If you have noticed your lawn turning brown a little too early, you may be a victim of an armyworm infestation.

Lawn experts say these insects have not been this bad locally in years.

"I've been doing this 30 years, and I've never seen it this bad," said Keith Lovelace, owner of Lovelace Lawncare.

Lovelace says the infestation is particularly bad this year because of the mild summer. The worms thrive in cooler temperatures and with more rainfall.

Wanda Sims' property has fallen victim to the pests. "My tenant called me, and they said 'We have worms.' I was like 'Worms! What do you mean worms?' She said, 'we got worms everywhere!'"

Thousands of them have taken over Sims' yard. She told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News she got the jitters after seeing the worms crawling everywhere.

The worms are the caterpillar stage of a moth. "The moths just lay the eggs, and then the armyworms come out and eat their environment," Lovelace said.

He says they are called armyworms because they move across your lawn like an army.

See the original post here:
Armyworm infestation invades West Tennessee