Be Mindful of Fall Armyworm, Which Could Get Interesting

– Kelley Tilmon, Amy Raudenbush, Andy Michel, James Morris, and Curtis Young, CCA, OSU Extension

Be aware of feeding damage this fall, especially forage crop fields. Photo by James Morris, OSU Extension

Since the extremely unusual fall armyworm outbreak of 2021 which affected forage including alfalfa and sorghum sudangrass, and turf, we have instituted a monitoring program in 14 Ohio counties. Though it’s too early to declare an outbreak, we’re seeing higher numbers in the traps than typical for the last couple of years (see Lep Monitoring report in this newsletter for more details). These moths will lay eggs which will hatch into the first instar, the smallest caterpillars which will grow as they feed. Control is easiest in younger instars. Fall armyworm migrates into Ohio during the latter part of summer and could cause problems into late summer. Unlike the true armyworm that only feeds on grasses (i.e., corn, wheat, forage grasses), the fall armyworm has well over 100 different types of plants upon which it feeds including many grasses but also alfalfa, soybeans, beets, cabbage, peanuts, onion, cotton, pasture grasses, millet, tomato, and . . .

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