Lawn armyworm
Spodoptera mauritiaCaterpillars that feed at night and strip grass leaves down to the crown. Damage can spread across a lawn in days, then the lawn usually recovers once they're gone.
Lawn Library
Pests
Lawn pests: the damage they cause, when they are active in your climate zone, and how to check for them before you treat.
Identify a lawn pest from the damageLawn grubs (curl grubs)
Heteronychus arator and other scarab larvaeC-shaped, cream-coloured beetle larvae that live in the soil and eat grass roots. Damaged patches turn brown and lift easily because the roots are gone.