About Cutworms

Cutworms are insect that typically attack field grown and garden plants. Cutworms usually feed at the base of plants and can kill a young plant in one feeding. Cutworms are abundant and widespread and attack a wide variety of crops. Significant economic losses can result from cutworm damage making them important insects to monitor.

History

Cutworms are the larvae (caterpillars) of specific moths found in the family Noctuidae. Noctuidae is a family of moths that is active at night and considered to be one of the largest families of the insect order Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies). Many moths seen flying around lights at night are noctuids. These caterpillars are called cutworms due to their feeding on young plants at or below the soil surface. The feeding results in the plant falling over or wilting at the point of feeding. Many times a young plant will be completely severed at the point of feeding.

Identification

Cutworms are often dull or dark colored and can have dull colored stripes. They can usually be found curled up when disturbed. Other insect larvae can be found in the soil such as white grubs. White grubs have a larger body, a brighter white color and a larger head. Adult cutworms are small and usually dull gray, brown and light brown.

Significance

Cutworms feed on a wide variety of plants including asparagus, corn, bean, cabbage, pepper and tomato. Cutworms can also be pests in tree nurseries although to a much smaller degree than food crops. Nearly any crop in field production or in a home garden can be susceptible to cutworm damage. Cutworm damage usually occurs early in the growing season (spring) when plants are young and soft making them easy to eat. Later in the season, damage to foliage and other tissues higher on plants is often seen.

Types

Four basic types of cutworms are recognized according to their feeding habits. Subterranean cutworms feed mostly below the soil surface on roots and the base of plants. Tunnel dwelling cutworms remove tissues and pull them from the surface into a tunnel to feed. Surface feeding cutworms feed above the surface at and near the base of a plant. Climbing cutworms climb plants to feed on soft tissues and are often seen feeding together.

Prevention/Solution

Eggs are laid on the base of plants or in soil. Control weeds in and around the planting area prior to planting to reduce the amount of alternate host plants. Home gardeners sometimes use barriers such as aluminum foil at the base of new plants to reduce feeding damage. Other methods include the use of insecticides to manage cutworm populations.