Which insect is bad for turf?

Which insect is bad for turf?

• A. Lady bugs
• B. Fire Ants
• C. Miratoad
• D. Scale

Answer: (D)

Sap-sucking insects are particularly harmful to turf because they feed on the plant’s fluids, weakening the grass and causing symptoms like yellowing, stunted growth, and patchy areas. Scale insects attach to grass blades, crowns, or stolons and drain sap, which directly undermines turf vigor. Their waxy coverings can hide them from easy inspection, and the honeydew they produce supports mold and can attract other pests, compounding stress on the lawn. While lady bugs are beneficial predators and help keep pest numbers down, and fire ants mainly cause trouble by mounding and disturbing the soil, scale is the insect that directly damages turf by feeding on the grass itself. The miratoad isn’t a typical turf pest, so scale fits best as the troublesome option for turf health.

Sap-sucking insects are particularly harmful to turf because they feed on the plant’s fluids, weakening the grass and causing symptoms like yellowing, stunted growth, and patchy areas. Scale insects attach to grass blades, crowns, or stolons and drain sap, which directly undermines turf vigor. Their waxy coverings can hide them from easy inspection, and the honeydew they produce supports mold and can attract other pests, compounding stress on the lawn. While lady bugs are beneficial predators and help keep pest numbers down, and fire ants mainly cause trouble by mounding and disturbing the soil, scale is the insect that directly damages turf by feeding on the grass itself. The miratoad isn’t a typical turf pest, so scale fits best as the troublesome option for turf health.