The earliest (1-4) instars eat relatively little leaf material, while the fourth and fifth larval stages eat over 93% of the total foliage consumed over its life span. Fall armyworms eggs laid on a golf course water coolerAfter hatching, newly emerged larvae may spin a silken thread to lower themselves to the turf to feed. The presence of lights around athletic fields, parks, and golf courses can increase the likelihood of moths being present near these turfgrass settings and should be considered when scouting for these pests.įigure 5. These structures can include bleachers, fences, light posts, golf flags, and even water coolers ( Figure 5). Fall Armyworm EggsArmyworms fly and mate at night, after which the female will lay up to 1,000 eggs in masses ( Figure 4) on suitable host plants or indiscriminate surfaces including the undersides of tree leaves or on structures near turfgrasses. Infestations of fall armyworms often occur during “outbreak years”, when exceptionally high populations of the insects survive the winter and make their way north.įigure 4. Forewings are mottled with flecks of white, and males may have a triangular white spot near the wing tip, and another spot in the middle of the wing.įall armyworms are unusually susceptible to cold, and populations are thought to die out each winter except in the southern region of Texas. Adult moths ( Figure 3) are generally gray in color, with a 1½-inch wingspan and white underwings. Fall armyworm adult mothThe fall armyworm has four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The same behavior can sometimes occur in turf, where areas as large as a football field can be consumed in the course of 2-3 days ( Figure 2). The name ‘armyworm’ originates from agriculture, where infestations sometimes resemble an army as they move across large agriculture fields. They feed primarily on bermudagrass, ryegrass, fescue, and bluegrass, but can also be important pests of agricultural crops. Fall armyworm damage to a football fieldThe larval stage ( Figure 1) of armyworms can cause rapid,significant loss of leaf tissue in turfgrass. The fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda) is the most common cause of damaged turfgrass on golf courses, athletic fields, and home landscapes.įigure 2. Common species of armyworms present in Texas include: the fall armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda) the yellowstriped armyworm ( Spodoptera ornithogalli) the beet armyworm ( Spodoptera exigua) and the true armyworm ( Mythimna (= Pseudaletia) unipuncta). Fall armyworm larvaeArmyworms belong to the insect order Lepidoptera and family Noctuidae. Casey Reynolds, PhD, Mike Merchant, PhD and Diane Silcox Reynolds, PhDįall Armyworm: Spodoptera frugiperda Smith Descriptionįigure 1.
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