Which mechanism best describes how sod webworms damage turf grass?

• A. They chew off blades near the soil and expose the crown to sunlight
• B. They feed on roots below the soil surface
• C. They tunnel through the crown
• D. They feed exclusively on thatch material

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that sod webworms injure turf by chewing the leaf blades right at the soil line, removing tissue near the crown. This weakens the plant and exposes the crown to sunlight, which can cause desiccation and dying patches in the turf. The damage you see comes from loss of leaf tissue at the base, not from feeding on roots, tunneling through the crown, or feeding only on thatch. Roots-feeding pests weaken the plant differently, crown-tunneling pests create holes in the crown itself, and thatch-feeders don’t account for the characteristic blade-level damage near the soil line. So the mechanism of chewing blades near the soil and exposing the crown best explains sod webworm damage.