![]() Larvae have considerable impact because they cut plants, and then quickly move to others to continue the cutting, so small populations do much damage. In general, loss of plants in infested fields varies from 20-80%, usually in patches. The crops most severely attacked are maize, vegetables, cotton, tobacco, and turf grasses. An outbreak in Pennsylvania in 1980, for instance, decimated 2000 ha of maize. ImpactĪlthough the cutworm has the potential for considerable damage, outbreaks are relatively rare. Spread of the moth occurs on the wind it is a strong flyer, with migrations noted in several parts of the world (Asia, Indonesia, the Middle East and North America) where populations have suddenly appeared and disappeared. ![]() Moths are brownish, wingspans of 40-55 mm, with kidney-shaped spots and dagger-like markings on the forewings (Photos 3&4). Plants may be dragged into tunnels made in the soil, and eaten during the day.Įggs are white, dome-shaped, 0.5 mm diameter, laid in groups of 30 or more on the host plants, grasses, other weeds and debris the larvae go through 5-6 moults and when mature are grey, greyish brown or black, up to 45 mm long. They have a narrow light strip along the back, and shiny black spots scattered over the body (Photos 1&2). The larvae curl up when disturbed (Photo 2). They cut through stems just above soil level if the soil is moist if the soil is dry the larvae chew into the plants below ground, and often the plants wilt and die. The caterpillars (larvae) do the damage. Young larvae feed on the plant and make holes in the leaves, older ones hide in the soil or in plant remains, and feed at night. Wide beans, brassicas, carrot, celery, cucurbits, lettuce, onion, peanuts, maize, radish, sugarbeet, sunflower, tobacco, tomato and many more crops, and also weeds. It is recorded from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga. ![]() Asia, Africa, North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Oceania. ![]() Common Nameīlack cutworm, greasy cutworm Scientific Name Adult moth of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon. Note the black dagger-like marks are just noticeable on the left wing.
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