Which pest has ivory white caterpillars with small black spots?

• A. Sod webworm
• B. Hairy chinch bug
• C. Bluegrass billbug
• D. European chafer

Answer: (A)

Recognizing the pest by its larval appearance helps identify turf issues. Ivory white caterpillars with small black spots are characteristic of sod webworm larvae, which are the caterpillar stage of a moth. These larvae chew on grass blades, often feeding at night and sometimes leaving webbing or damaged patches at the turf surface. The other pests listed are not caterpillars: hairy chinch bug nymphs and adults are true bugs that suck on the plant rather than chew blades; bluegrass billbug larvae are grub-like with a brown head and feed inside crowns or roots; European chafer larvae are white grubs feeding on roots. So the distinctive pale caterpillars with tiny black spots point to sod webworm.