Once crops begin to sprout, monitoring for cutworms may be a necessity

A recent post on the Montana Ag Alert website referenced the increase in activity of cutworms in Yellowstone County.  This may be something to be on the lookout for.  Here is what the Ag Alert had to say;

"Cutworms have been active in cropland in Yellowstone County and infested acreage is significantly higher compared to 2012.  The adult moth stage of the two common species in Montana, army cutworm (AC) and pale western cutworm (PWC), are monitored every August by collaborating county agents and producers. Catches of both species were low during August of 2012, suggesting region-wide risk from cutworms should remain low for the spring of 2013. However,early cutworm activity in Yellowstone County suggests that last fall’s mild temperatures may have enabled high survival rates of the caterpillars over the winter. MSU extension entomology recommends scouting for cutworm activity and damage as spring temperatures continue to warm up.

Army and pale western cutworms lay their eggs during the fall season. AC hatch and begin feeding in the fall while most PWC hatch in the spring. AC feeds above ground on the leaves at night or on overcast days–watch for damaged leaves. PWC feeds below ground on the crown and stem–watch for dead or wilted plants that appear to be cut resulting in stand reduction.  Both cutworms are nocturnal. Look for the caterpillars by lightly scraping the soil surface during the day in areas where rows have been thinned.

Cutworms can damage a variety of crops in addition to small grains. For more information please refer to the MontGuide titled “Pale Western and Army Cutworms in Montana”.  Also see pest notes posted on the High Plains IPM Guide:http://wiki.bugwood.org/HPIPM.

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