Figure 13. Spittle mass produced by spittlebug nymph.

SpittlebugsSpittlebugs are an occasional pest of turf grasses. The nymphs

are white and live within a white frothy mass or "spittle" (Fig. 13).They feed by sucking juices from the grass. Infested grass will havespittle masses present, and tips of the grass will turn yellow, follow-ed by browning and curling.

Predators and ParasitesSeveral predatory and parasitic insects are often associated

with chinch bugs and webworms. The most prominent predator ofchinch bugs is the big-eyed bug (Fig. 14). One of the earwigsLabidura (Fig. 15), is a very good predator of both chinch bugs andwebworm larvae and several other turfgrass insects. It has beenobserved to eat as many as 50 adult chinch bugs in one night.Spiders (Fig. 16) and ground beetles are efficient predators ofseveral harmful lawn insects and are considered extremelybeneficial. An ichneumonid wasp is also a very common parasite ofthe webworm larvae and can be seen hovering over grass infested bywebworms. Big-eyed bugs, some lygaeids (Fig. 17), and anthocorids(another group of predators) are about the same size as chinch bugsand are often confused with them. Quite often these beneficial in-sects are misidentified as being harmful and a pesticide is appliedwhen it is not needed.

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