Lawn insects are a menace and can cause all manner of damage from feeding on the turf to making their way into your home.
Just when you thought that foot traffic and the sun are the only things that can deteriorate your lawn, you are presented with a funny-looking character that you have probably never seen your entire life. Lawn insects are a menace and can cause all manner of damage from feeding on the turf to making their way into your home.
Some of the signs of pest attack in your lawn that you should be looking out for are the dead and dying grass patches, bite marks on grass, wilting blades, brown spots, and different kinds of insects on the grass. For people who have kids, having a lawn that will harbor insects is not a welcome idea.
In addition, lawns have other biological benefits that will indirectly benefit you and the ecosystem. Lawns are perfect for mitigating soil erosion and are known to enhance entrapment and biodegradation of the synthetic organic compounds. They also boost recharge and quality protection of the groundwater and control flooding, amongst other benefits.
So, given the above benefits, maintaining your lawn is a high priority. This article has consolidated a list of the best lawn insect killers to help you make an informed choice.
Comparison Table: Best lawn insect killer
Best lawn insect killer | Effectiveness | Price |
Ortho 0275510 Fire Ant Killer | Kills the queen and destroys the mound | Check Price Here |
Ortho 0841010 Dial N Spray Hose End Sprayer | Kills weeds, insecticides, and fungicides | Check Price Here |
BAYER CROP SCIENCE 700280B | Best for the surface insects | Check Price Here |
Flowtron MA-1000-6 Octenol Mosquito Attractant Cartridges | Used with the electronic mosquito killer | Check Price Here |
Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Humane Mice Control Electronic Insect Repellent | Rejects rodents, roaches, and spiders | Check Price Here |
Ecosmart Insect Killer Granules 10 Lb. | Granules for lawns and landscapes | Check Price Here |
Bonide (BND60360) – Insect and Grub Control | Kills different species in 24 hours | Check Price Here |
Ortho 0275510 Fire Ant Killer
Ortho fire ant killer has been formulated to eliminate the queen and the mound in your lawn without necessarily using water. To achieve effectiveness with the Ortho insect killer there are some simple rules of application that you might want to observe. For example, the insecticide is best applied in the morning or late in the evening because it is at this time that the ants will be active in your lawn.
During application, it is important to apply the insecticide on the entire lawn to mitigate cases of re-infestation by the fire ants that come from the surrounding areas. Treatment will therefore proceed from the infested areas to the areas where the mounds are visible and finally in the neighboring areas.
The insect killer is also known to control the foraging workers and the newly mated fly-in queens and will even kill the already existing colonies. For perfect elimination, the application should be done when the temperatures are between 65˚ and 80˚F.
Pros
- The insecticide actually eliminates ants.
- The insecticide can be used for the entire season.
- Can also be used to get rid of critters.
- Kills the ants and the nests even when beneath the grass.
Cons
- Smells bad.
- Causes the ant to relocate somewhere else.
Ortho 0841010 Dial N Spray Hose End Sprayer
Ortho dial n spray is a simple and fast way of controlling insects on your lawn. The insect killer is versatile since it can be used to eliminate insects and kill the weeds in your lawn and fungicides.
The best part of using this insect killer is that you don’t need to mix or measure anything looking for the right constitution. In order to use it, you will have to pour the insecticide into the jar and then customize the settings and the spray pattern. The last step is to connect the hose and you are good to spray.
In addition, for ease of use the manufacturer has been keen to incorporate the dilution settings. This automatically combines the product with water to offer the relevant treatment every time it is used.
The insecticide can be delivered in three different spray patterns. So if you are dealing with large open areas you can use the broadcast pattern. If you are using it for the high and hard to reach areas, the jet spray will assist. Lastly, the shower setting is perfect for flowers and other vegetation.
Pros
- The extended grip handle keeps the hands dry.
- The three adjustable spray patterns allow for a comprehensive application.
- Can be used on insects, weeds, and fungicides.
- The 14 dial setting enables precise product application.
Cons
- The product does not take consistent suction.
- The product leaks during use.
BAYER CROP SCIENCE 700280B
Surface insects normally don’t have limits and will crawl on anyone and anything. So to be on the safe side, we have unearthed an insecticide formulated to keep the surface insects at bay known as the Bayer Crop Science. Surface insects when not controlled will find their way into your home and they include crickets, cockroaches, the Japanese beetles, and the stink bugs.
Bayer crop science will eliminate the above insects and many others that we haven’t mentioned. The insecticide is not limited to the lawns given that the surface insects are rather adventurous. It can also be used on trees, flowers, ground covers, shrubs and along building foundations. Most importantly is that the insecticide is waterproof that enables it to be absorbed into the plant material.
Application of the insecticide is a breeze given that you wouldn’t need to mix the formulation. It also contains herbicides that help in controlling the weeds without causing harm to the lawn.
Pros
- The insecticide eliminates the creepy bugs in the lawn.
- The effects of the insecticide are long term.
- Offers up to 3 months protection.
- Treats up to 5, 334sq. ft.
Cons
- Effective when the instructions are followed.
- Many knockoffs in the market that don’t work.
Flowtron MA-1000-6 Octenol Mosquito Attractant Cartridges
Unless you have a lawn, then you will never know how biting flies can mess the whole concept of having some family time in the garden. Biting flies will make a home in your lawn and will strike anytime that you try to enjoy the sun even from the balcony or when you are having some fun time in the backyard.
Mosquitoes are also known to access the homes in droves, mostly in the evenings. It is for this particular reason that we searched for an insect killer that will help you keep the population of the biting flies and mosquitoes in check.
The Flowtron Octenol mosquito attractant has been designed to attract mosquitoes and biting flies but will require the use of an electronic insect killer. The attractant works by producing the needed heat, and convective airflow that helps vaporize the attractant and consequently disperse it. The latter will be done at the required rate per hour. Once used the attractant is sure to remain effective for a period of 400 hours. This means that it continues to eliminate the lawn insects long after it was switched off.
Pros
- The best insecticide for the long term.
- Offer value for money.
- Good for areas with high mosquito population.
- Installation and use is easy and safe.
Cons
- Does not work everywhere.
- Attracts other insects instead of mosquitoes.
Ultrasonic Pest Repeller Humane Mice Control Electronic Insect Repellent
If you have been waiting for a pest repellent that does not use any chemicals then technology has got your back with the Ultrasonic Pest Repeller. This unit we must say is the best for people who love nature and the wild, and those who understand and appreciate the role of insects in the food chain.
The Ultrasonic Pest Repeller seeks to save you from the trouble of picking and discarding the dead insects and will therefore send out an ultrasound that will disorient and perturb pests such that they can neither feed nor rest in their nests. The ultrasound evicts insects like rodents, spiders and roaches from your lawn.
The pest and insect repellent is safe for kids and pets and the best option for adults who suffer from allergies.
Pros
- The Repeller signal can easily drive mice out of their hideout and into a trap that you had set before.
- The irritating sound helps get rid of stubborn insects from the house and the lawn.
- The frequency of the signal keeps changing to prevent the insects and rodents from getting used to it.
- Will get rid of the roaches that crawl into the house from the lawn.
Cons
- Some of the insects and rodents are immune.
Ecosmart Insect Killer Granules 10 Lb
It is only fair that we comb the markets for an organic insect killer to include in this list. The Ecosmart insect killer is the best organic formulation to apply on your lawn, around the foundation of your home and in landscapes.
The Ecosmart insect killer can be applied using the handheld spreader or physically with your hands. Protective clothing must be worn during application and re-application should be done every four to six weeks. However, if you use it on home foundations then reapplication must be done after every two to four weeks.
The organic insect killer granules are known to kill and repel insects like the famous lawn centipede, the earwigs, grasshoppers, the ground beetles and the millipedes.
Pros
- Safe for pets.
- Effective for a large variety of bugs.
- Best used on lawns and landscapes (Ornamental and flowers).
- Has some kind of nice mint smell.
Bonide (BND60360) – Insect and Grub Control
If you are tired of dealing with insects that constantly crawl out of your lawn and into your house the Bonide Insect and grub control is the perfect option for you. It kills insects like cutworms, mole crickets, fire ants, cranefly, chinch bugs and the billbugs.
The insecticide offers all-round protection and has a wide application window, thus users are not restricted to the timings. Rather the effectiveness of the insecticide is not dependent on a particular window of time. 6lbs of the insecticides will offer the best treatment for up to 5,000sq. ft. and that is for the subsurface. For the surface it will cover up to 7,500 sq. ft.
Pros
- Best for gardens that have been infested with insects.
- Good for lawns that have been riddled with tunnels because of moles.
- Effectively gets rid of the cutworms.
- Application is pretty easy and with long term effects.
Cons
- Unfortunately eliminates the earthworms.
- Fails to work for some of the users.
Conclusion
Insecticides are available in various configurations and formulations. There are organic insecticides for individuals who aren’t into chemicals and want their lawns to remain natural. There are those that have incorporated chemical formulations and are the best to use in severely infested lawns. Lastly, we have those insecticides that just use electronic gadgets which are good for people who are sensitive to chemicals.
Hopefully with this article you will be able to find an insecticide that best suits your needs.
FAQ’s
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When is the best time to apply insect killer in my lawn?
When you notice insect activity or when you notice that your turf has been chewed on, or when the grass is brown.
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What time of day is the best for me to spray insecticide in my lawn?
The ideal time to spray insecticide in your home is when the pollinating insects are not working, bees are an important element in the food chain and should, therefore, not be killed, besides they help with pollination.