Why is it hard to detect buffalo grass sod webworm caterpillars?

• A. They hide in tunnels underground
• B. They feed on the leaf surfaces
• C. They are active only at night
• D. They are easily washed away by rain

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that these caterpillars hide in tunnels, so you can’t easily spot them on the grass blades. Buffalo grass sod webworm caterpillars spend much of their time inside silk-lined tunnels in the thatch and just beneath the surface of the turf. They feed on the leaf tissue from inside these tunnels, which means you don’t see widespread chewing or signs on the leaf surfaces the way you would with pests that feed openly. Because they’re mostly hidden, damage often shows up as thinning, irregular brown patches rather than obvious caterpillars on the blades. To detect them, you typically have to lift sections of turf or examine the thatch for tunnels and frass. This subterranean habits explains why they’re hard to detect until damage becomes noticeable.