Keep Your Grass Green: Banks Grass Mite

The Banks grass mite is a common grass destroyer in Virginia. Learn more about how to keep them from harming your yard this summer.

Banks grass mites are microscopic, so it might be challenging to figure out when these mites are causing harm to your grass, but this guide should help you figure it out before it's a huge problem for you or your turf.

What Does A Banks Grass Mite Look Like?

What Harm Does A Banks Grass Mite Cause?

How Can I Protect Against Banks Grass Mites?

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What Does A Banks Grass Mite Look Like?

Banks grass mites are less than 1/2mm, so roughly the size of a fine grain of sand. They are usually a green color, allowing them to blend in easily with grass during their active months. When they overwinter, they become bright orange or red. They lay tiny pearly white eggs and multiple generations will occur throughout the season.

Banks grass mites are in the spider mite family, so they will produce webbing. The webbing may become visible in high population areas. Because of their size, magnification would be required to see their features, but, as arachnids, the nymphs and adults have 8 legs.

What Harm Does A Banks Grass Mite Cause?

Banks grass mites feed on grasses. They are most active through the spring and summer months, and prefer drought-stressed areas. They feed by piercing the leaves and stripping them of the chlorophyll and plant sap the turf needs to remain healthy. First, you'll notice discoloration, such as yellowish-brown spots. Infestations will leave the grass looking grayish or silvery. Seedling grasses can be stunted or killed and mature grass will also eventually die off.

Because mites are drawn to dry, hot areas, the damage that they inflict can be mistaken for drought damage. With multiple generations throughout one summer, damage can become substantial.

How Can I Protect Against Banks Grass Mites?

The best thing you can do to protect against Banks grass mites is to make sure your turf is adequately watered. Water deeply and early in the morning. Keep your grass mowed to a healthy height and remove any dead areas. If you see heavy webbing, that area is likely infested and would need to be removed.

Many pesticides will eliminate only the predators of the Banks grass mite, making the infestation much worse. Make sure that the professionals you are using spray pyrethroid (such as bifenthrin) to target these mites, as well as their predators. Keeping up with regular, seasonal yard treatments is always helpful.

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To learn about more local Virginia pests, check out our pest library and our other blog posts