Fall armyworms marching across pastures, lawns, soybeans

By Mary Hightower
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Fast facts
* Fall armyworms reported in lawns, soybeans, pastures

* Management information also in Extension fact sheet FSA7083, ‘Managing Armyworms in Pastures and Hayfields.” http://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7083.pdf

(190 words)

CONWAY, Ark. – Fall armyworms are on the march again, making lawns and pastures seem to disappear overnight.

Kami Marsh, Faulkner County extension agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, spent a good part of Monday fielding calls about this annual caterpillar plague.

ADVANCING — Armyworms are on the move in Arkansas, and have recently been noticed in multiple counties, (Photo by Photo by Jeff Ingram.)

“Anyone with a lawn, plus cattle and hay producers, should be scouting for these worms,” Marsh said. “They will feed on a variety of forage crops, but often prefer lush bermudagrass.”

Morning and evening are the best times to scout for fall armyworms, since those are the times they are most active.

Newly hatched fall armyworms are light green or cream-colored with a dark head and measures about one-sixteenth of an inch long. As it grows, it becomes darker in color and the head has a light colored “Y”-shaped mark down the front. In addition, the next-to-last abdominal segment has four small dark dots. A fully grown fall army worm is about 1.5 inches long. 

For more information on controlling armyworms in pastures, see Extension fact sheet FSA 7083 “Managing Armyworms in Pastures and Hayfields” http://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/PDF/FSA-7083.pdf.

Information about managing fall armyworms can also be found: http://www.uaex.uada.edu/counties/prairie/fall%20armyworm%20sheet%202015.pdf

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu

Related Links

• Arkansas Farm and Ranch
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