Description: Beet armyworm larvae are green or marked with stripes, growing to 1-1/4 inches long, and can be identified by a small black spot on each side of the second body segment. Wings are held over the back when at rest. Fall armyworm larvae grow to 2 inches in length and are marked with green, brown or black stripes. The top of each abdominal segment has 2 pairs of black dots from which stiff hairs arise. Adult moths have dark gray mottled forewings. Wings are held over the back when at rest. The hind wings are white.
Damage:
Larvae feed on foliage of a wide variety of agronomic and horticultural crops and cause severe crop losses when they occur in large numbers.
Life cycle:
Overwinters usually in the pupal stage. In spring, armyworm females oviposit clusters of eggs covered with hairs and scales from her body. Larvae hatch and develop through 5 stages over about 3 weeks. Larvae pupate in the ground within a cell made of soil and trash particles. Moths emerge within 2 weeks. Several generations occur annually.
