How Do I Know if Armyworms Are Damaging My Lawn?

Posted by Mosquito Squad Plus

October 20, 2026

How Do I Know if Armyworms Are Damaging My Lawn?

Fall armyworms can chew their way across a Nashville lawn with surprising speed and little regard for your feelings on the matter.

But did you know that armyworms usually leave clues before their damage becomes impossible to miss? Their name sounds dramatic, and frankly, their feeding habits can be.

Fall armyworms are caterpillars that feed voraciously on turf grass and other vegetation. When enough of them hatch in close proximity, they can advance across your lawn in numbers so large they make healthy turf look considerably less so – and in a short amount of time.

Here are some things you might see when armyworms have set up camp in your lawn.

What Does Early Armyworm Damage Look Like?

The first signs of armyworm damage can be easy to overlook. That’s because very young armyworms aren’t yet capable of taking large, noticeable bites out of grass blades. Instead, they scrape away the green tissue, which might leave portions of your lawn looking pale.

But as these caterpillars grow, their subtlety fades. Older armyworm larvae can consume much more of the grass blade, and are capable of producing browned, thinned, or even closely cropped areas of grass.

How Can You Spot Fall Armyworms?

Armyworms can feed during the day and night, but early morning can be a good time to look for them.

As for their appearance, armyworms range in color from greenish yellow to gray, brown, or nearly black. One of their most obvious identifying features is a pale, upside-down Y on their heads.

But there’s another clue that doesn’t involve crouching on the grass with a magnifying glass. Watch birds around your lawn. If it suddenly becomes unusually popular with birds, especially early in the morning, they might have found a steady supply of caterpillars in the grass.

When Do Armyworms Become an Issue in Tennessee?

Unlike many other pests, armyworms don’t successfully overwinter in Tennessee. Adult moths migrate north from warmer climates, reaching our area during the growing season. Those moths then lay clusters of eggs, and the caterpillars that follow very often become noticeable in late summer and fall.

And while warm autumn conditions keep the cycle moving, a hard frost will eventually bring their seasonal feeding activity to an end.

Until then, Mosquito Squad Plus of Nashville can target armyworms as part of our broad-spectrum pest control services. And the best time to treat is while caterpillars are present but before substantial turf damage occurs – that could be now.

Where Do We Offer Pest Control?

Mosquito Squad Plus of Nashville is pleased to offer mosquito control, tick control, as well as year-round expanded outdoor pest control services throughout these areas in Davidson County, Wilson County, Sumner County, Williamson County, and beyond.

Choose Mosquito Squad Plus for Nashville pest control!

Mosquito Squad Plus treats mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and many more outdoor pests throughout the Nashville TN area! Contact us today at (615) 492-3662 or fill out our online form for your complimentary Nashville outdoor pest control assessment and treatment quote.

Our pest control packages and related services all come with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee!