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.
“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
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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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
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