El Paso County Extension agent Catherine Moravec recently issued a warning about Kentucky bluegrass. It is starting to turn green with the recent warm weather and this is the time when lawns can be killed by grass mites.

The Extension office received many calls last spring about turf damage caused by winter desiccation and mite damage. Mites prefer a dry environment, so water lawns to prevent dead areas, unless there is a wet, heavy snow.

The Colorado State University Extension office has more information here.

Banks grass mite (Oligonychus pratensis) damages corn crops as well as grass. Photo by Courtesy of Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado Master Gardener