News
The Fall Army Worm – BE WATCHING!!
10th August 2016
The Fall Army Worm is a serious threat to turf grasses, especially, during the months of July, August, and September. This problematic insect while in their moth-like adult stage tends to search out Bermudagrass, as it migrates northward from Florida and the Gulf States. Please note that that does not mean that other turf grasses won’t be effected. By June these moths begin to arrive in North Carolina with each female moth laying up to 1,000 eggs in masses of 50 or more.
The larval stage of a Fall Army Worm grows up to 1.5 inches long and greenish with blackish stripes along each side and down the center of it’s back. It also has a very distinct inverted “Y” on its head. Each larval generation feed in mass for two to three weeks and feed nocturnally. They leave large circular to irregular whitish patches, where the leaves have been skeletonized and chewed down into the crown region of each turf grass plant.
Understanding the Fall Army Worm’s life cycle is important in order to apply the appropriate control when the insect is most vulnerable. During the larval stage of the Fall Army Worm is the most effective and vulnerable time to have maximum control. The use of a contact – type Insecticide like Telstar can be used if the infestation is low, but a Systemic Insecticide – Aceletryn – has the most effective control of 60 to 90 days.
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It is important that every effort is made to observe and identify the Fall Army Worm Moth that flys in during the month of June. During the months of July through September it is critical that a vigilant eye has a watch on the development of this larval stage, and treat immediately. And, know that other mass generations will probably be occurring soon thereafter. Treatment of a broader area of turf grass (such as a turf farm field, golf courses, athletic fields, or even entire neighborhoods) needs to be with a Systemic Insecticide.
A reputable turf farm would never be carrying the eggs or larvae of an Army Worm. The loss of a field due to an Army Worm infestation would be a disastrous loss. It is far less expensive to pre-treat their fields. All of the Turf Farms that we are associated with are Professional, and actually pre-treat their fields preventing any Army Worm egg from surviving.
For more information or assistance with a Army Worm problem, contact us today!
