Have you noticed traces of tiny pink spheres all over your lawn? Have you noticed a decline in lawn health? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to these questions, there’s a high chance that your lawn has a new pest infestation. Ground pearls are small yet mighty parasitic insects that leech off fluids from grass roots which is essential for their growth and nutrition. They are known for affecting Southern states and we have recently spotted them in our area. Ground pearls seem to be active now within the subdivision of Lafayette Park in our area. Today, I will walk you through the path to ground pearl identification and control.
Signs of infestation
When a ground pearl infestation takes place, you will notice irregular patches of grass that will gradually die off. They stunt the grass growth by sucking in and feeding on plant fluids while leaving behind a salivary matter making them dry out and turn brown.
Insect Identification
Right after their birth ground pearls produce a wax like material that solidifies into a shell. Female ground pearls are the main cause of damage to your lawn. Male ground pearls do not pose any harm to your lawn. The adult females have a round pearl like body structure. Their colors are either soft or bright pink.
Each generation of ground pearls typically last for a year. However, the problem is that there have been cases of their cysts being inactive beneath the ground only to emerge later on and restarting the infestation.
How to control ground pearls
Unfortunately there is no particular treatment yet that combats ground pearl infestations. You may need to re-sod the affected areas or the entire lawn based on the severity. But the best way to avoid them in the first place is by ensuring a healthy lawn. You can achieve this through:
- Fresh cuts: maintain a year round weekly or bi-weekly lawn mowing and weed control program.
- Stay hydrated: be sure to water your lawn regularly. Keep an eye on the weather forecast to determine the right time and amount.
- Nurturing nutrients: use fertilizer twice a year around fall and spring to give the grass a boost of all the necessary nutrients for optimum growth.
Until an insecticide that fights off these pests surfaces in the market, following the above mentioned tips for ground pearl identification and control will ensure a healthy lawn that keeps these pests away. To read more information on ground pearls, click here.
At Quiet Lawn, we do all the work mentioned above and we can make things even easier for you to get your property in tip-top shape before you put it on the market! Interested? Call us at 843-779-8873 or simply leave a comment below! We provide FREE estimates!
We are locals, taking care of lawns in Little River, Longs and North Myrtle Beach area is second nature to us. Additionally, our team employs necessary sanitation and safety measures while carrying out services during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide a risk free and safe experience.
