It’s not unusual to see a swarm of tiny flying insects emerge from your lawn when mowing or walking across it. But what are those little bugs zipping around your grass and are they harmful? Identifying and controlling common lawn insects like fungus gnats crane flies, and midges will ensure a healthy landscape.
What Causes Little Flying Bugs in the Grass?
There are several culprits that can cause small flying bugs to inhabit your yard:
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Fungus gnats – Dark mosquito-like insects about 1/8 inch long. The larvae feed on plant roots and organic matter.
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Crane flies – Resemble oversized mosquitoes up to 1 inch long. The larvae feed on grass roots.
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Midges – Tiny gnat-like insects less than 1/8 inch long. Some species larvae feed on grass.
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Thrips – Slender yellow, brown or black insects under 1/4 inch long. Some feed on grass blades.
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Sod webworms – Caterpillars up to 3/4 inch long that feed on grass roots. Adults are lawn moths.
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Chinch bugs – Small true bugs up to 1/5 inch that suck juices from grass blades.
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Armyworms – Caterpillars up to 1 inch long that chew down grass blades.
The most common causes of small flying insects in lawns are fungus gnats, crane flies, midges, and the adult stage of webworms and other lawn pests. Heavy populations can indicate damaging root or foliage feeders infesting the grass.
Identifying Lawn Insects
Use these tips to identify little flying bugs in your yard:
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Size – Gnats, midges, and thrips are tiny (under 1/8 inch). Moths and crane flies are larger (over 1/2 inch).
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Colors – Dark colors like black, brown, or gray point to fungus gnats or midges. Green or yellow are thrips. Light tan/white are likely moths.
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Wings – Lacy wings indicate moths. Clear wings are small flies. Smoky wings are midges.
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Behavior – Flying up when grass is disturbed is typical. Check for lawn damage if they swarm intensively.
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Damage signs – Patches of yellowing or dying grass indicate root or foliage feeders.
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Larvae – Use a soil probe to check for caterpillars or grubs in the root zone.
Managing Lawn Insect Pests
The best way to control little flying bugs in grass depends on properly identifying the culprits. Here are tips for managing common lawn insects:
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For fungus gnats, allow soil to dry between watering and use BTI dunks to kill larvae. Sticky traps catch adults.
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Apply beneficial nematodes to control crane fly larvae. Target adults with sprays containing permethrin or bifenthrin.
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Midge damage is usually minimal. Improve drainage and reduce thatch to reduce populations.
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Webworms and armyworms are treated with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for young larvae, or permethrin/bifenthrin sprays on older stages.
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Chinch bugs die off with soapy water sprays or insecticides like carbaryl, bifenthrin and permethrin.
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Thrips can be managed by adjusting fertility, spraying neem oil or insecticidal soap, and attracting predatory insects.
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Apply preventive grub control products like Merit or Bayer Advanced Season Long Grub Control annually to deter beetle grubs from damaging roots.
For severe lawn infestations, products like bifenthrin or permethrin work against a broad spectrum of insect pests. Always follow label application guidelines carefully.
Preventing Lawn Insect Issues
Proper lawn care promotes healthy grass that better withstands insect damage.
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Mow high (3-4 inches) to encourage deep roots.
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Water early in the day, about 1-1.5 inches per week. Avoid moisture stress.
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Improve drainage in soggy areas.
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Use a soil test to determine proper fertility needs.
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Fix thatch and aerate for better penetration of water, nutrients and insecticides.
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Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings.
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Tolerate some root feeding; most grasses can handle moderate damage.
Finding little flying bugs inhabiting your lawn is common, but excess numbers indicate a pest problem. Proper identification, treatment when needed, and prevention will help keep insects in check and your grass growing healthy and strong all season long.
SIGNS OF FUNGUS GNATS
Pesky mini-swarms of adult gnats are usually the first sign of an infestation. As fungus gnat larvae feed on plant roots, infested plants wilt and display weak, unattractive growth. As root damage increases, root rot disease may set in. Rotting roots attract larvae and encourage more feeding. Affected plants deteriorate quickly.
Adult fungus gnats can be found outside hovering over piles of grass clippings, leaves, and mulch around foundations that are starting to break down. Indoors, fungus gnats stay close to the houseplants they infest. However, they may migrate toward bright windows, lighting, and your favorite refreshments. Yellow insect sticky traps also attract these flying pests.
HOW TO CONTROL FUNGUS GNATS
Effective fungus gnat control targets plant-damaging larvae and nuisance adult gnats. For outdoor container gardens and landscapes, spray thoroughly to treat soil and vegetation where adults hide. For fungus gnat treatment, you should always take indoor plants outside. Wait for the product to dry completely before bringing the plants back inside. Amdro brand offers several options to kill fungus gnats outdoors and reclaim your yard:
- When fungus gnats touch Amdro Quick Kill Outdoor Insect Killer Ready to Spray, they die. The spray will keep killing gnats for up to three months. Connect the container to a regular garden hose, and spray your grass or plants until the water runs off. You don’t have to measure or mix anything; the container does it for you.
- With an easy-to-use measuring cap, Amdro Quick Kill Outdoor Insect Killer Concentrate kills fungus gnats on contact and protects your lawn and garden for up to three months. Follow the directions on the label for diluting the product in a regular garden sprayer with a pump. Then spray plant and soil surfaces thoroughly.
Swarms of Very Tiny Flying Bugs in Our Backyard. Like tiny clouds.
Are flying bugs in your lawn a problem?
Sometimes it’s really better to let nature solve these problems. Here, I will talk about flying bugs you can spot in your lawn. The most often, you will have problems with tiny, mosquito-like Lawn gnats that hover over grass in huge swarms.
How do I get rid of flying insects in my lawn?
Predaceous nematodes – An excellent way to kill flying insects is to spray the solution of nematodes Steinernema feltiae and water throughout your lawn. Repeat the procedure every few weeks early in the morning until solving the problem. Insecticides – You need to use a liquid insecticide effective against flying insects.
Do Green flies kill grass?
When their population numbers are left uncontrolled, they can speed up turf’s death. Some green flies like aphids can cause massive damage to your lawn when found in large numbers. They like to leave a sticky substance on grass, damaging it in the process.
What are the most common beneficial lawn insect identification?
Let’s go over some of the most common beneficial lawn insect identification. You might find some of these on the grassy areas of your property: Ground beetles are usually a shiny bronze, green, or tan color. They are a little bit smaller than the Japanese beetle.
