As average high temperatures begin to decline in the American Southwest, new seasonal pests can become a problem. One of these pests is the armyworm. What is an armyworm? An armyworm is a moth larva that takes the form of a caterpillar that feeds on grass, vegetation and crops.
The true armyworm’s scientific name is pseudaletia unipuncta; this is derived from the way it marches through pastures, similar to an invading army. Why are armyworms bad? If left unchecked, armyworms can destroy large swaths of grass and crops.
Here’s more information about armyworms.
What do armyworms look like?
The larvae are 1.5 inches long when fully grown and have a mix of dark green, brown and black coloration. They often have two stripes running from their head to their tail and an inverted-Y-shaped design on their head, which is usually yellowish brown in color.
The moths that armyworms evolve into are 1.5 inches from wingtip to wingtip and are usually tan or light brown in color, with mottled color patterns featured on the wings. Many of these moths have a white spot in the center of both wings.
Where are they found?
Armyworms are vulnerable to the cold, and their eggs will die if the temperature gets too low. This means they’re more of a problem in the American South and Southwest, in states like Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama and Florida.
What do armyworms eat?
Like an invading army, armyworms will eat anything they come across—especially the grass on your lawn. They’re specifically fond of Bermudagrass, bluegrass, ryegrass and fescue.
They will also feed on barley, corn, wheats, oats, fall rye and forage grasses. Armyworms have been known to munch on vegetables such as sweet potatoes, radishes, peas, peppers, onions, carrots, beans and cabbage.
How much damage can armyworms do?
Because of their sheer numbers and the amount that they eat, an armyworm infestation can kill all the grass on a football field (an area of 57,600 square feet or 1.32 acres) in two to three days. If armyworms run out of food sources, they simply move on to something else, which can be any of the vegetables we mentioned above, as well as some additional fruits.
They can render the crops they feed on useless, as you can’t eat or sell them—and that’s only if the armyworms don’t kill the crops outright. They’re a major pest for farmers and homeowners alike.
What can you do about armyworms?
You want to catch the armyworms early before they do irreparable damage. You can scout your fields by checking grass and plants for armyworms with the aid of a sweeping net. You can also apply various pesticides like Monterey B.t., Azatrol EC or horticultural oils or Spinosad sprays.
Give us a call about your armyworm infestation today
You’ll no longer have to ask yourself, “What is an armyworm?” or “Why are armyworms bad?” as this article has covered both topics. But if you’d like the professionals to help you with an armyworm problem, give us a call at Excellence Pest Control. We have the knowledge and experience to ensure that your yard doesn’t get destroyed by armyworms this fall.