A creepy critter may be to blame for dead spots in your Kansas lawn this summer
.jpg "Armyworms are causing damage to lawns in Kansas, and may be more prevalent this year in Wichita.")
Kansas is experiencing less severe drought this year, and it’s no question yards are enjoying the extra moisture after a rainy June. So if you’re still finding brown spots on your lawn this summer, a creepy, crawly nuisance may be to blame.
Armyworms have been confirmed in Wichita and other parts of Kansas recently, and they may not be going away soon, according to one entomologist.
“They’re going to continue probably for another month or two, or even three, depending upon the weather,” Kansas State University entomology professor Jeff Whitworth recently told The Wichita Eagle.
K State’s research and extension office warned Wichitans through a Facebook post July 11 of the return of the invasive species.
“While it is normal this time of year to start seeing Fall Armyworm caterpillars, the populations in Kansas appear to be more prevalent this year than last year,” the post reads, stating fall armyworms have been specifically spotted near 119th and 135th streets.
True armyworms and fall armyworms are common in Kansas in the summer months, and while there are differences between the two, both can wreak havoc on your yard, Whitworth said.
“This time of year, it doesn’t matter [which variety you have], because the larvae of both cause about the same kind of damage,” he said.
Armyworm larvae are small striped worms that can reach about an inch and half to 2 inches in length. Both fall armyworms and true armyworms are the same size and color, but the one defining characteristic of fall armyworms is four distinct black spots on the last body segment.
Additionally, fall armyworms don’t overwinter in Kansas, while true armyworms can stay around and cause damage to newly planted crops and lawns during the fall season, Whitworth said.
Surviving armyworms eventually turn into moths, and only cause damage to lawns in their caterpillar form. Here’s what to know about protecting you Kansas yard this summer.
What risk do armyworms pose?
Armyworms feed on grass, corn, wheat and other crops.
“They can do a lot of damage quite quickly,” Whitworth said.
If grass isn’t available, they will feed on broadleaf plants as well, but not weeds.
As armyworms mature, they turn into brown moths that are pretty nondescript, Whitworth said, and usually aren’t noticeable.
The life cycle of an armyworm happens fast, usually 30 days from the egg to maturing and laying its own egg. That fast life cycle means areas with armyworms will most likely see multiple generations of the bug before summer concludes.
“We’re probably going to see into mid-July, late July, we’re probably going to see two, maybe three more generations,” Whitworth said.
How do I get rid of armyworms?
Whitworth said there’s unfortunately not a quick way to prevent armyworms from feeding on your lawn. Instead, the most effective way to manage an armyworm population is to identify the problem as early as possible.
“If you expect something is feeding, you want to get out there while they’re young and treat it at that time,” Whitworth said. “Some of the pictures I’ve gotten [are] of large larvae, and by that, I mean an inch to an inch and a half ... they’re not going to feed anymore.”
Once armyworms get that size, Whitworth said they usually stop feeding and move onto the next phase of their life cycle.
Armyworms are nocturnal, so Whitworth recommends going outdoors during nighttime or early in the morning with a flashlight to look for the worms. If you identify an infestation, Whitworth recommends using an insecticide specifically geared to armyworms.
Once armyworms have fed on a yard, they will try to find other green grass to lay eggs on. As a general rule, armyworms most likely won’t damage the same yard twice.
“If you’ve had a lot of damage in your yard, these things ... they probably won’t be back. They’ll probably move on and go someplace else,” Whitworth said. “But if you’ve watered the yard and it’s recovered quite nicely from previous damage, they may just lay eggs right there. But generally ... [your yard] is not going to recover that quickly.”
This story was originally published July 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "A creepy critter may be to blame for dead spots in your Kansas lawn this summer."
