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All about Army Cutworms (Miller Moths)
All about Army Cutworms (Miller Moths)
I have heard of army worms, I have heard of cutworms, but I have never heard of army cutworms, until our lawn care franchise owner in Olympia, WA , Mike Bell, sent me a picture of a caterpillar he had not seen before.
There are several turf damaging caterpillars, such as sod webworm , army worms and cutworms, but they are generally not a serious pest problem in the Pacific Northwest. I told Mike that it looked like an army worm as it has the characteristic “inverted-Y” on its head.
What Is an Army Cutworm?
Mike did some further checking on his own and sent me an article on the army cutworm, which was news to me. I guess that is what makes being in lawn care so enjoyable, there is always something new to learn. This has been my week to learn some new things. The last blog I wrote about was on the Ash Flower Gall Mite and this week it is the army cutworm.
When I researched the army cutworm, I discovered it is more of an occasional, but significant pest on oats and wheat in the Plains states. The moth is commonly called a “miller moth” due to the fine scales that rub off easily and remind people of the dusty flour that covers a miller’s clothes.
What Kind of Damage Can Army Cutworms Cause?
Miller moths can be a nuisance pest in many homes when the moths migrate in the spring and fall. They often move to Alpine climates and can reach populations large enough to be a favorite food of black bears. These moths are actually very nutritious for bears as the moth’s body can contain up to 70% fat.
I am glad that there is not a new pest problem in the Pacific Northwest, but army cutworms can cause some significant damage on home lawns. So far, the damage has been sporadic and isolated to just a few locations. As you can see in this picture, the damage can be fairly extensive. Fortunately, the turf often recovers on its own, but the feeding can cause some true concern.
Insects generally feed on specific plants, but they can change their feeding habits if conditions change. They are somewhat opportunistic and will feed on plants that are similar to their favorite foods. This may be the case with the army cutworm.
For other outdoor pest or insect questions, ask the Spring-Green Lawn Care expert. Or, if you need some help getting your lawn back in shape because of insect activity, get in touch with your local Spring-Green owner —we provide all manner of lawn care, lawn disease control, perimeter pest control, and other services.