Armyworm moths are active during the evening, feeding on nectar, mating, and searching for oviposition sites. During the day, moths remain hidden in grassy vegetation. Most armyworm moths migrate into the Illinois from the southern states in April and May. Photos courtesy of Matt Montgomery, UI Extensionįew armyworms overwinter in Illinois. After oviposition, the moth rolls the leaf blade of the plant around each egg mass. Eggs, which resemble small white globules, are laid in rows or groups on leaves of host plants. The armyworm moth, approximately an inch long with a 1 ½ inch wingspan, is tan to light brown, with a tiny white spot centered on each forewing. Armyworm pupa stay in a brown earthen shell just below the soil surface. Armyworm larvae may also be distinguished by a dark band on the outer side of each proleg. The head capsule is yellowish brown with a brown network of veins, giving it a mottled appearance. Mature larvae are approximately 1 ½ inches long. On each side, there are long, pale white, orange, and dark brown stripes along the length of the abdomen. Photo courtesy of Matt Montgomery, UI ExtensionĪrmyworm larvae vary in color from dark greenish-brown to black. There are usually two to three generations each year in Illinois. Though they feed primarily on grasses (oats, wheat, fall rye, corn, barley, and forage grasses), they can be a pest of some vegetables (bean, cabbage, carrot, onion, pea, pepper, radish and sweet potato). As larvae consume available food sources, they migrate as an army to new host plants. Armyworms get their name from their behavior of moving across fields in an army-like fashion. Native to North America, the armyworm can be found east of the Rocky Mountains, reaching northward into southern Canada. IPM : Field Crops : Armyworm (Pseudaletia unipuncta Haworth)ĭownload a printable version of this document (Adobe PDF, 256 kb)
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