Fall Armyworms in Northwest Georgia
Before I start the topic for today, I want to give a promotion for an upcoming UGA Extension meeting to be held at the Gordon County Agricultural Service Center on Sept. 1, 2016. Most anyone will realize that we are experiencing a drought in the area. This drought is causing issues for our cattle producers especially. Late spring and summer is the time we bale hay for winter-feeding. The lack of moisture has resulted in livestock folks being short on hay for winter-feeding. Our meeting will center on transitioning from drought to winter in regards to managing feeding options. There will be a sponsored lunch with the meeting lasting from 11:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending needs to RSVP by Monday, Aug. 29 to guarantee a meal. RSVP by calling the office at 706-629-8685 or email gbowman@ uga. edu.
Today, I would like to share information about fall armyworms. First, this has been a tough year for armyworms not only for folks that depend on grass for grazing or hay for, but also for homeowners. I will be sharing information based on an Alabama Cooperative Extension publication on this pest.
In our part of the state, fall armyworms seem to not be an annual pest, but when we do have them, it can be a problem. This year you compile armyworms with an already drought situation and it can be worse for our people who depend on forages. We are already limited on grazing and low hay production. How do armyworms get here to Northwest Georgia? This is the result of an armyworm moth migration and how far north they actually get. Each year the moths are carried by air currents and the size and the time of the migration will determine the outbreak potential. I have a friend that cuts hay for a living in deep South Georgia. He says he deals with fall armyworms every year. It does seem that drought conditions are favorable for fall armyworms so this year is a perfect storm.
Fall armyworms can feed on a variety of items. True, they like real lush green Bermuda, but they also feed on fescue, millets, winter annuals, alfalfa, and several crops, and can be seen on vegetable crops. I will tell you that I really only get calls on fall armyworms feeding on grasses in the area, but I am sure they feed on other items too. This may sound like a simple statement, but they damage grasses by chewing the grass tissue. If you have armyworm problems, you should easily see the culprit.
It is true they are more active in the morning and evening hours, but you can see them mid-day. Most folks will think the armyworms arrive overnight, but that is not true. The young armyworms don’t eat as much when young and the late stage armyworm can eat as much foliage as all the other growth stages put together. That is why folks that did not realize they had them will think the damage occurs overnight. Plus, when you see the armyworms in a mature form, they will be in large number and will march across the field or lawn like an army. If you choose to not spray for them, you may wake up and say they have disappeared. This may be partly true. They could have moved on to another food source or they may have burrowed into the soil to pupate.
Please note that more than likely we will have another round or generation of armyworms before we get cold this fall. If you have armyworms, it is almost impossible to not see the feeding damage to your grass. If you investigate, the actual full- grown larvae can be one to 1.5 inches in length and can vary in color from a light green to an almost black color with several stripes along the body. The face of the larvae is marked with a light colored inverted Y. On the back of the caterpillar, you can see three thin stripes moving along the length of the segment or the entire length of the body. I am sure you can find many images online to compare in identification.
What can you do if you suspect armyworms? In theory, fall armyworm damage comes in waves with the waves being about a month apart. For farmers that depend on forages for the livestock, the threshold for spraying is said to be three armyworms per square foot. I think most folks are way past that number, but some producers decide to harvest the hay to save what they can. I will add that if you do spray pastures or hayfields, you must read the label of that particular agriculture insecticide and know any grazing or hay harvesting restrictions.
Homeowners wanting to spray a lawn, must use home lawn labeled products and read the label for any warnings for safety also. Never use an agriculture labeled product on your home lawn. Make sure any insecticide used is labeled for armyworms.
Finally, this round of armyworms may slow down soon due to the pests burrowing in the ground for pupation. It is suggested to start scouting for small caterpillars about two weeks after the initial damage has occurred. The worms are easier to control if you can manage them while they are smaller.
For more information, contact UGA Extension- Gordon County at 706-629-8685 or email gbowman@uga. edu.