Worms in my lawn

Discussion in 'HortForum' started by that dee girl, May 10, 2005.

  1. that dee girl

    that dee girl Member

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    Someone told me that I had too many worms in my lawn and this was a sign of something negative. (I can't remember what) Can anyone enlighten me. I always thought worms were a good thing.
    Thanks
     
  2. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    They're probably talking about European cranefly larvae. More than 25/per sq. ft. indicates you have enough to begin pesiticide applications, if so inclined.
     
  3. that dee girl

    that dee girl Member

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    No, these are run of the mill, good for fishing bait, lovely to see in the compost, type worms. Just thought I would check, thanks, now if I could do something about the european chafers.
    thanks
     
  4. Ralph Walton

    Ralph Walton Active Member 10 Years

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    Worms being earthworms which are purple-red-pink shades and may be several inches long, many segments, with one segment (about 1/3 from one end) being 2 to 4 times the length of the other segments: desirable. Euro cranefly larvae sometimes called cutworms (but perhaps not correctly?) are 1 to 1 1/4" long, blunt ended and grey tones: bad news.
    Ralph
     
  5. Ron B

    Ron B Paragon of Plants 10 Years

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    Cranefly larvae are leatherjackets, cutworms are caterpillars. Lawns that have enough craneflies to get eaten up are probably too damp anyway, really need to have the irrigation/drainage corrected.
     
  6. that dee girl

    that dee girl Member

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    thank you for identifying the other pest in my lawn, the cranefly. I knew that they weren't cut worms. My lawn doesn't have a drainage problem, but last year when I was trying to get rid of the chafers, it was suggested that I flood the lawn, to get the chafers to the surface before I used Sevin. So it sounds like I made the area ideal for cranefly. My lawn is healthy, I aerate and fertilize, leave the turf a bit longer, but still seem to be having problems.
     

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