Cutworms in your gardens

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Purdue Extension - Cutworms

Cutworms overwinter under weeds, leaves stones and paths, ready to emerge on warm days to eat through your vegetables. Cutworms are not actually worms, but the caterpillar of a moth.


They can be the larvae of Feltia jaculifera, Noctuidae, Turnip moth or Agrotis moths. Here's a helpful link http://bugguide.net/node/view/10464

It's 70 outside so I'm watering and weeding around the veg garden and finding dozens of these Dingy Cutworms and tossing them out to the birds.

Keep an eye out as you work in the garden and toss them.

Purdue Extension --
"Most cutworms overwinter as pupae in the soil or as young larvae, however some move into the Midwest as moths from southern latitudes. After emerging or arriving in the Midwest, moths mate then deposit eggs on soil, weeds, and/or crops (arriving moths may have already mated). 
Cutworm lifecycle
 
Black Cutworm Iowa State

   Cutworm damage may be prevalent where soybean is planted or replanted late (e.g., bottom ground wet from spring flooding) and in fields with weedy growth. Cutworm presence may be evident before or after planting on several types of host plants."
Purdue Extension - Cutworms


"Cutworms remain hidden in the soil during the day, but may feed throughout the day below the soil surface. To find them, examine the top 3 inches (7.6 cm) of soil around damaged plants. Some cutworms may be easily overlooked because their body colors blend in with the soil."

Also see the U. MN Ext information at
http://www1.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/cutworms-in-home-gardens/

Comments

Unknown said…
Yes, it is March and it’s the perfect time for growing peas and carrots. I never heard about the ‘Starting seed guide’; but gonna give it a try. I have read about the seed propagation, which is pretty handy indeed. http://www.advancednutrients.com/hydroponics/articles/hydroponics-gardening/treating-seeds-for-plant-propagation.php
March 3, 2013 at 9:55 PM
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