Damage from buffalo grass sod webworm is more severe under which weather conditions?

• A. Hot, dry weather
• B. Cool, wet weather
• C. Windy conditions
• D. Heavy rainfall with low temperatures

Answer: (A)

When buffalo grass is stressed by heat and drought, it can’t recover as quickly from the chewing of sod webworms, and warm temperatures speed the insects’ feeding and development. That combination makes the damage appear more severe because the turf’s vigor is already low and the pests are active, so larger patches of the lawn fail to rebound. In cooler, wetter weather, the grass stays healthier and can repair damage faster, and the insects don’t feed as aggressively, so damage is less pronounced. Windy conditions don’t inherently increase the impact, and heavy rainfall with low temperatures tends to slow insect activity and aid recovery, making them less damaging overall.