SHERMAN, Texas – Some creepy crawlers are invading lawns in North Texas. Residents in Sherman report their grass is a lot less green since an insect known as the Armyworm began to invade their front and backyards.
The armyworm is actually the caterpillar or larva of the night-flying moth. The larvae occur in large army-like numbers and when they eat all the food in one area they "march" en masse, across roads and fence lines, to the next field for feeding.
Experts say they will grow to about an inch-and-a-half long and eat any plant, but prefer grass, especially well-fertilized hay meadows and pastures in North, East and Central Texas.
"They've been here all season long, it's just a re-hatch. Basically they lay their eggs and then they re-hatch out of their eggs and what you see of the army worm is actually their larva," said Bryan Graham, Twin Oaks Nursery.
Armyworms do most of their damage in the fall when temperatures are cooler and higher rainfall are favorable for outbreaks. Experts say the insects are not harmful to humans and several insecticides can help get rid of them.
