Armyworm larvae are active at night, feeding on turf grass plants. They are active during the evening, feeding on nectar, mating, and searching for areas – like your lawn! – to lay their eggs.Īrmyworm eggs are deposited in rows or clusters on the lower leaves of grasses or at the base of plants these typically hatch in one to two weeks, beginning the larval stage.ĭuring the daytime, armyworm larvae can be found under plant debris, or in the top few inches of the soil. The head capsule is a yellowish-brown with a brown network of veins, which gives the armyworm a mottled appearance.Īrmyworm moths migrate from the southern U.S. Mature larvae are approximately 1.5 inches long. They have long white, orange, and dark brown stripes along the length of the abdomen. These bugs are native to North America and can be found east of the Rocky Mountains, reaching into southern Canada.Īrmyworm larvae vary in color from dark greenish-brown to black. When larvae consume available food sources, they migrate as an army to new host plants. Before reaching full maturity, however, armyworms do resemble worms in their larval stage, and these worm-like pests can cause serious damage to the lawn.Īrmyworms get their name from the way that they “march” across turf grass in an army-like fashion. Because these insects are extremely destructive, identification and quick treatment are absolutely crucial.Ĭontrary to what the name suggests, full-grown armyworms are not actually worms – they are moths.
Are you noticing brown patches of grass in your lawn? Do the edges of the grass blades appear to be chewed in these patches? If so, you may be dealing with an armyworm infestation.