Army Worms in Memphis: What Homeowners Need to Know

Pat Beard • August 31, 2026

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We joke around the office that there's no such thing as a real lawn care emergency…except for one thing: army worms.



The moment we get wind of these little rascals, we rally the troops and go to work. But it's not time to panic. It’s time to start paying attention.

What are army worms?

Despite the name, they're not worms at all. They're actually caterpillars, the larval stage of the fall army worm moth. They migrate north out of Texas and Florida every year and move through Tennessee in late summer and early fall. Most years it's a manageable, routine pest. Some years, the population spikes and lawns across the Mid-South get hit hard almost overnight. Either way, they can turn a lawn into a battle zone quickly if you ignore them.

Why homeowners get spooked.

Army worms earn their name honestly. They move across a lawn in large numbers, feeding as they go, and they can strip a section of turf down to bare stems in a matter of days. One evening your lawn looks fine. A few days later, there's a spreading brown patch that looks chewed rather than diseased. That speed is what catches people off guard.

What to look for.



  • "Frosted" or ragged grass blades — an early sign, especially where young caterpillars are feeding on the underside of leaves, leaving a “window pane” section. 
  • Brown patches that appear fast and keep expanding, with chewed, ragged edges rather than the smooth pattern you'd see with fungus.
  • More birds than usual in your yard. Blackbirds and starlings show up to feast on the caterpillars, and unusual bird activity is often the first thing homeowners notice.
  • The soapy water test: mix a couple of teaspoons of dish soap in a gallon of water and pour it over a suspect patch. If army worms are present, they'll surface within a few minutes.


Worth knowing: Bermuda, St. Augustine, and fescue lawns are the most vulnerable. Zoysia tends to hold up better against them.

What to do if you spot them.

Don't wait. Army worms move fast, and the earlier we catch an infestation, the less damage your lawn takes. If you see any of the signs above, give us a call before the patch spreads.

How we treat it.

Our approach is two-part: we treat the active infestation to stop the feeding, then apply fertilizer to speed up your lawn's recovery. Established lawns generally bounce back well once the worms are dealt with. The key is catching it early and giving the turf what it needs to regrow.


If you see anything that looks like the signs above, don't wait it out — call us at (901) 829-4200 or reach out at ContactUs@PersonalLawnCare.com.

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