Sod Cutworm Pupae in New Sod: Identification and Control

I found brown, capsule-like objects among dead grass in newly laid sod. What are they?

Identification: Cutworm Pupae

Your sod had cutworm moth eggs when purchased. They hatched, caterpillars fed for days, then pupated—the brown things are cutworm pupae. Caterpillars emerge at night and chew grass stems at ground level.

Control

Apply a turf insecticide late in the evening. Effective products include:

• Trichlorfon (Bayer Advanced Grub Control)
• Carbaryl (Sevin)
• Bacillus thuringiensis (Dipel WP)
• Pyrethroids: bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, permethrin, tralomethrin

sod cutworm pupa in soil

sod cutworm pupa and caterpillar