The fall armyworm is a kind of species that is generally found in the larval life stage when they invade your backyard. The term “armyworm” has been given because it describes that several species have been found that have large-scale invasive behavior.
Many lawns at Oklahoma City metro area are getting severely damaged because of Armyworm invasion. It is the kind of pest that can damage crops, and can cause large economic damage. If you find such an armyworm invading your lawn then you will need to seek the help of profressional pest control Edmond OK.
The key to maintaining these pests under the economic threshold will be to scout every other day for these worms. It is easier to control when they are small as you can identify what species is actually causing the damage. If you leave them untreated, then armyworms can destroy your newly established winter pasture within a very short time.
Where you must look
You need to scout along your field borders and also uniformly all across the field. Often armyworms will move into fields. Pest control treatment can often be limited to the margins of the field, which can save considerable chemical costs. Prfessionals from trusted services like Edmond Pest Control will help in indentifyug their entry points.
Damage to your pasture will start while feeding on the outer layers of the leaves starts, which will cause a windowpane effect and they will chew through entire leaves. Observe your plants for the presence of actively feeding caterpillars.
You must also look beneath the dirt clods and check for litter for caterpillars that may be hiding to escape due to daytime temperatures. Usually, they can be easily found during the morning hours or dusk. Also, you can watch for birds hunting in an intense area of your field and try to scout that area to find if they are hunting on armyworms.
The good news is that your grass will not die and they will come back again. It will take over-seeding next year and it will look good again. But armyworms will not just invade your lawns but will be taking out your entire crops too.
Life cycle
Fall armyworm may not overwinter in Edmond. It may reinfest in your state each year and then migrate northward. Usually, migrating populations can reach Arkansas and Oklahoma during late June.
Each of their female species can lay about 1,000 eggs to produce fifty to several hundred. By early July you can find their larvae. After feeding for 2 -3 weeks, larvae will dig into the soil for pupating.
After 2 weeks, a new generation of these moths will emerge. There can be several overlapping generations that may extend into October or sometimes even November in some of the years.
Inspection and control
By applying irritants like dish detergent you can detect their infestation. You can add 1/4th cup of dry liquid detergent into 1 gallon of water within a sprinkling can and then apply this solution to 1 square yard of your turfgrass where you suspect an infestation.
The caterpillars will come out within 10 minutes and will be detected by separating the grass blades. You may need to call exterminator Edmond OK when you notice five to ten larvae are found within one square yard of your turf.
