WFAA-TV

Armyworms feed any time of the day or night.

DECATUR — We've got an alert about an army invading North Texas.

Armyworms are chomping their way across lawns and pastures, especially in Wise County.

Experts say homeowners and residents should be on the lookout.

Stare at some patches of lawn long enough and you realize they are moving — crawling with an army that truly does travel on its stomach.

Little green stomachs full of well-cared-for grass.

"I've got worms everywhere. They've eaten us up. They've already got the yard just about eat," said BD Lowe.

His neighbor Gerre Joiner is trying to save his yard, too.

"This means war," he said, while spraying.

Exterminators are getting calls from just about everyone in the Decatur neighborhood.

Smaller invasions have been reported across North Texas.

Common pesticides kill them.

But they love pastures, too.

Rancher Joe Dean hasn't seen it this bad in a long time.

"About 20 years ago they were about the same. Not in the last 10 to 15 years, not like this," he said.

Wise County agent Gary Clayton says weather was just right for the worms this year.

They turn into moths.

The moths lay thousands of eggs.

"They can devastate a pasture in a matter of days," Clayton said.

Clayton says people need to know what they look like, because this is one army that can sneak up on you.

E-mail jdouglas@wfaa.com