Billbug Treatment Guide
About Billbugs
Billbugs are insects that feed on your lawn they are very destructive and will kill grass and roots. The billbug is usually brown or grey and has a distinctive snout, hence its name. It is actually the larvae of the billbug that feeds on your grass. They have cream larvae with no legs and are in the shape of a C. They burrow into your lawn leaving brown dead patches and bare areas of soil. you can not see them unless you go beneath the grass to the roots. When it is warm enough (usually around 18 degrees) the adult bugs will emerge and you may spot them around your garden paths looking for a place to lay eggs. You will also note billbug activity by small mounds of soil in your garden where they lay their eggs. Billbugs do not fly but can quickly infest a neighbourhood because they reproduce quickly.
Why are Billbugs a problem?
Billbugs are a problem because they can cause quite a large amount of damage in a relatively small time frame as it only takes two weeks after egg laying for the larvae to emerge. This means Billbugs can breed several generations over one season.
Inspecting for Billbugs
Pre-Treatment Measures
To avoid Billbug infestation keep your lawn healthy by following a lawn care program, mow regularly as a long lush green lawn is very attractive to the female Billbug for laying her eggs. Applying a preventative insecticide in early spring to prevent infestation is very important as it is easier to prevent infestation than deal with it after the fact.
How to Control Billbug
To treat 100m2 of lawn, mix 12-24mL of Killzone Termiticde and Insecticide into at least 2 Litres of water and apply evenly over the infested area. Where there is heavy infestation use the higher rate to treat. Continue to inspect treated areas and reapply as required.
Tips
- To ensure optimum control, irrigate the treated area with up to 4 mm of water soon after application
- Apply after mowing to minimise loss of insecticide in clippings
- DO NOT apply to soils if excessively wet or immediately after heavy rain.
Always read product label prior to use.
