Cutworms

Black Cutworm

Black and Variegated Cutworms
Black and Variegated Cutworms (bugwood.org)
Cutworm Feeding on Radish
Cutworm Feeding on Radish

Description

Adult: Moths have a wingspan of 38 mm. The forewings are dark brown and the hind wings are white and gray. 
Egg: Spherical, 0.5 mm wide, eggs are initially white, then turn brown with maturity. 
Larva: The head is brown with dark spots, and the body color ranges from a light gray to black, reaching 50 mm long at maturity. 
Pupa: Pupae are dark brown and about 1 inch long.

Life History

Black cutworms overwinter as pupae 1 to 5 inches below the soil surface. Adult females emerge in spring and may deposit up to 1,900 eggs during their life span. Eggs are laid on foliage of various vegetables, including carrots and beets. After 3-6 days, larvae hatch and develop through six to seven instars over a period of 20-40 days. Later-instar larvae hide in the soil during the day. In Utah, two to four generations may occur each season.

Damage

Host crops include a wide variety of vegetables, including carrots and beets. Larvae will feed at soil level, often severing the stem.

Variegated Cutworm

Description

Adult: Moths have a wingspan of 38 mm. Front wings are a dark mix of gray, brown, and red. Hind wings are white with brown veins and shading. The head, thorax, and abdomen are brown.
Egg:
Spherical, 0.5 mm wide, eggs are white and then turn brown.  
Larva: The larva grows up to 43 mm and ranges from brown-gray to gray-black. The main characteristic is a yellow-white spot on each of the four abdominable segments. 
Pupa: Pupae are mahogany brown color, less than 25 mm long.

Life History

Cutworms overwinter as pupae in the soil, with moths emerging in the spring. Females lay clusters of up to 100 eggs on leaves and stems, and up to 1,400 eggs in their lifespan. Depending on the weather, eggs hatch occurs within 10 days. There are normally six instars throughout the larval development. When the larva reaches maturity, it pupates near the soil surface for 13-33 days. In Utah, two to four generations occur each year.

Damage

Larvae kill young seedlings by severing the plant at the soil surface and by defoliation. Larger larvae hide underneath leaves during the day and feed in the evening. Variegated cutworms are also known to invade greenhouse and high tunnel production.

Cutworm Management

Cultural

  • Monitor crops. Scout crops in multiple locations by examining upper leaves of the host plants and looking for eggs, larvae, and feeding damage. Moths can be monitored with pheromone traps.
  • Till the soil. Tilling the soil at the end of the season will disrupt the cutworm’s overwintering pupation stage, which occurs only a few centimeters below the surface.
  • Manage weeds. Reduce the amount of weeds near the growing site as they serve as an alternate host.
  • Use floating row covers, where practical. This prevents adult moths from laying eggs near host plants. 
  • Use light traps. Black light traps are effective to monitor or kill adult moths in the summer and fall; however, later generations are less of a threat to crops. This method can also be used to monitor adult populations.
  • Protect seedlings. Consider using a protective barrier such a waxed paper container, can, or aluminum foil around the plant stem or base of seedlings.

Biological

Variegated cutworms are vulnerable to attack by various entomopathogenic nematodes, such as those in the Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae families. Nematodes are more effective in higher moisture soils.

Chemical

Generally, persistent insecticides are effective toward both black and variegated cutworms. Early application is especially beneficial to younger plants to prevent stem-cutting damage and early defoliation.

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