What Insects Damage Lawns in Wisconsin — and How to Treat Them

Grubs are the larvae of beetles such as Japanese beetles and June beetles, and they are the most common serious lawn pest here. They chew through grass roots in late summer and fall, producing irregular brown patches that do not respond to watering and turf that pulls up loosely. Prevention — applied around mid-summer and watered in — is the most reliable control.

Some insects feed on grass blades and crowns rather than roots, thinning the lawn from the top down. Damage can look like general thinning or browning that is easy to mistake for drought, which is part of why a trained eye helps with diagnosis.

Our landscape insect control works on both levels. A granular insecticide targets soil-dwelling pests like grubs and ants, while broad-spectrum spray applications handle nuisance insects around eaves, patios, outdoor living spaces, and shrubs. A few well-timed applications carry protection through the season.

If you see spreading brown patches, turf that lifts like carpet, or animals digging up the lawn, it is worth having it looked at before the damage spreads. Catching an insect problem early is far easier than repairing a lawn after the roots are gone.