Insects that eat grass play a significant role in both natural ecosystems and human-managed environments. They range from leaf-chewing species to sap-sucking pests, and even root feeders. While some help recycle nutrients and serve as prey for other animals, others can damage lawns, pastures, and cereal crops when their populations grow too large.
Grasshoppers are among the most recognizable grass-eating insects. They use strong mandibles to chew grass blades and stems, providing a quick source of energy. Locusts, which are essentially swarming grasshoppers, can consume enormous amounts of grass in a short time, sometimes devastating pastures and agricultural fields during outbreaks. Crickets also feed on grass, mostly at night, and contribute to the breakdown of plant material in their habitats.
Many smaller insects, such as aphids, leafhoppers, and spittlebugs, feed on grasses in different ways. Aphids and leafhoppers pierce grass stems to suck sap, extracting nutrients and sometimes transmitting plant diseases. Spittlebug nymphs feed on sap while encasing themselves in frothy protective masses, which protect them from predators while they slowly consume grass nutrients.
Caterpillars and sawfly larvae are other significant grass feeders. Caterpillars, including armyworms and sod webworms, chew on grass leaves, often creating visible damage in lawns or pastures. Sawfly larvae similarly consume blades in groups, sometimes defoliating sections of meadows or turf. These insects are especially important in agricultural contexts because their feeding can reduce crop yields.
Some grass-eating insects feed below ground, targeting roots rather than blades. Mole crickets tunnel through soil while consuming grass roots, and wireworms, the larvae of click beetles, damage lawns and pastures by burrowing and feeding on underground plant parts. Root-feeding insects can stress grasses, reduce growth, and make plants more susceptible to drought or disease.
Insects That Eat Grass
Grasshoppers
Grasshoppers are among the most well-known grass-eating insects. They use their strong mandibles to chew grass blades and stems, sometimes causing significant damage to crops and pastures in large numbers.
Crickets
Crickets feed on grasses and other plant materials, mainly at night. Their diet helps break down plant matter, contributing to nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
Locusts
Locusts are essentially grasshoppers that swarm in large numbers. They feed voraciously on grasses and can decimate entire fields during outbreaks, impacting both natural ecosystems and agriculture.
Leafhoppers
Leafhoppers consume grass sap by piercing plant tissues with their specialized mouthparts. While feeding, they can transmit plant pathogens, making them important agricultural pests.
Aphids
Some aphid species feed on grasses, sucking sap from stems and leaves. Their feeding can weaken grasses and spread viral diseases, affecting lawns and cereal crops.
Grass Mites
Grass mites are tiny arachnids that feed on grass tissues. Although they do not consume large quantities, heavy infestations can stress grasses and reduce their growth.
Caterpillars (Lepidoptera larvae)
Several caterpillar species, such as armyworms and sod webworms, feed on grasses. They chew leaves and stems, sometimes forming visible damage patterns in lawns and pastures.
Sawflies
Sawfly larvae resemble caterpillars and feed on grasses in addition to other plants. Their chewing can strip grass blades, especially in dense infestations.
Chafers (Beetle larvae)
The larvae of certain scarab beetles, like June beetles, feed on grass roots underground. While the adults may eat flowers or leaves, the larvae can damage lawns and pastures significantly.
Mole Crickets
Mole crickets tunnel through soil and feed on grass roots, causing both direct damage from feeding and indirect damage from soil disruption. They are common pests in turfgrass environments.
Leaf Beetles
Some leaf beetle species feed on grass leaves. They use their mandibles to chew, creating holes and weakening the plants, particularly in ornamental or pasture grasses.
True Bugs (e.g., Stink Bugs)
Certain true bugs feed on grass sap. They use piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract nutrients, which can sometimes transmit pathogens or stress the plants.
Bluegrass Chinch Bug
These small insects feed on grass sap, particularly in lawns and turf. Their feeding causes yellowing and wilting, making them significant pests in ornamental grasses.
Sod Webworm Moths (Larvae)
The larvae of sod webworm moths chew grass blades at night, leaving irregular patches of damaged turf. They are common in lawns and pastures and can cause noticeable damage when populations are high.
Spittlebugs
Spittlebug nymphs feed on grass sap while encasing themselves in frothy protective masses. They extract nutrients from the grass, sometimes causing stunted growth or yellowing.
Grass Sawfly
Grass sawfly larvae specifically target grass blades. They feed in groups, consuming large portions of leaf tissue and potentially defoliating sections of lawns or meadows.
Aphid-Like Bugs (e.g., Greenbug)
Greenbugs and similar aphid-like insects pierce grass stems and suck out sap. Heavy infestations can weaken grasses, reduce growth, and transmit plant viruses.
Wireworms (Beetle Larvae)
Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles, feed on grass roots underground. Their tunneling and root consumption can damage lawns, golf courses, and pastures, especially when populations are dense.