Howell County, MO. – True Armyworms have been reported in the Howell County area. The MU Extension Field Specialist is encouraging farmers and others to start scouting and treating their crops and fields to prevent damage by these invasive crop destroyers.
True armyworms usually feed on grass species, meaning that your pastures, wheat, hay, and corn crops are at a high risk. The insect destroys the plant and clips the seed heads. When you are trying to justify treatment in your pastures look for three or more half-grown larvae per square foot. With your seed head crops seek treatment when 2 to 3% of the heads have been cut. You can treat your fields with insecticides or just harvest the field by haying or grazing. After you treat your fields, they suggest that you continue to scout because true armyworms could migrate in and re-infest the area.
True armyworms can be identified by the orange stripe along each side of the body and the dark brown spot or triangle on each of the abdominal prolegs in the center of its body. You can find them best at dusk or dawn because they will hide during the day. For more information on true armyworms visit, extension.missouri.edu. If you have further questions about scouting contact MU Extension Field Specialist in Agronomy Sarah Kenyon at 417-256-2391 or kenyons@missouri.edu.
