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Armyworms are only an occasional garden pest in this country. We do, however, experience periodic outbreaks. Armyworms are difficult to spot and difficult to destroy. There are few organic methods for killing armyworms. Depending on the severity of the outbreak, you may have to resort to chemical pesticides to control them.
Armyworms are not technically worms. They are the larvae or caterpillar stage of a miller moth. They feed on turf grasses and crops to include alfalfa, corn, beets, clover, and flax. They are nocturnal, feeding at night and hiding under vegetation or just below the soil surface during the day. The time they spend in the larval stage varies between 14 and 40 days during the summer and fall, depending on the species and the environment. Due to their nocturnal habits, they can wreak havoc on your lawn without being detected. You have to keep an eye out for signs of an infestation.
The first sign of an armyworm infestation is brown patches of damaged grass in your lawn or yellowing leaves on crops. Armyworms generally move into the yard from the edges and progress across the lawn in a line like an advancing army – hence the name. As they grow, armyworms eat more and more, and can defoliate an entire lawn. As a general rule, they do not kill the grass entirely, just make in look unattractive and damaged.
If you see these signs, look for caterpillars 1”-2” in length, ranging in color from tan, to green, to dark gray. They will have 3 – 5 dark stripes across their bodies and some species have a distinctive “Y” shaped marking on their heads. If you have seen signs of potential armyworm damage, spray soapy water (1 oz. dish washing soap per gallon of water) over your turf. If armyworms are present, they will come to the surface to avoid the spray soaking into the soil.
Once they come to the surface, armyworms can be killed by dropping them in a bucket of boiling water or a pan of bleach. This is the easiest, organic way to control a minor infestation. If you have a serious outbreak, you may have to resort to commercial pesticides. There are a number of chemicals available to treat caterpillar infestations. Always keep in mind that pesticides are all inclusive. They kill good insects as well as pests. They also contaminate ground water and can be dangerous to children and pets. Use pesticides to kill armyworms only as a last resort.
Armyworms are generally kept in check through a variety of natural predators. If you experience the rare armyworm infestation, the only organic method of killing them is destruction by hand. If you experience significant turf damage, you may have to resort to chemicals to kill the armyworm infestation. Remember though, the armyworm life stage is only 14 – 40 days. If you can wait it out without resorting to chemicals, they will move on naturally.
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Author Bio Box: Patricia Wainwright
Get all the facts about pest and disease and organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!
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