Army Worms

[landtracdeerhunter]

A heads up on this people on a serious issue. Their wide spread across Western N.Y.. They spread rapidly and in 2 days, can destroy a field. IT's not unusual to have them, but this year mild winter and early spring has brought them out in huge numbers. Their larvae are nocturnal invisible pests that spread very quickly. They are 2 weeks ahead of their predators, egg laying flies, with a virus that disperses across the fields and kill the larvae. They prefer grasses, wheat, and corn but won't turn their noses up at lawns, and other vegetation in a pinch. They are wiping out entire fields. A second and third wave is possible throughout the summer. Having trouble posting pics this morning. Maybe someone could post some of the larvae and moth. Thanks.

Edited June 15, 2012 by landtracdeerhunter

[SplitG2]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Lawdwaz]

Talked with a farmer in Naples earlier this week and he said the army worms had already destroyed two of his fields.

I saw some funky looking worms in my garden this morning and on my lawn here in WNY.......the battle is on!!

Chemical warfare is NOT out of the question. <<grin>>

[landtracdeerhunter]

I now have them on the farm. They went through 2 acres of wheat overnight. Just stems and heads standing. They seem to start crawling the stems, up from the ground, after 7p.m.. Also have found some dead worms, so hopefully the fly is here to check their numbers.

Edited June 15, 2012 by landtracdeerhunter

[5.9cummins]

IMP INFO

Photos

They come north on storm fronts. As of right now i believe there are only five products labeled for army worm in NY. One of the most popular / expensive is warrior. That being said from what i have heard it is getting hard to find product and or the price is getting hiked.

I wouldn't worry too much about a lawn it will come back. Crops are a different story.

[Fantail]

Well this sucks.

[growalot]

How could I tell???!!! I was out at 5a.m. weeding and planting and found no less then 5 different colored worms ..from tan to bright green and dozens and dozens of them...the Selven is out but hate to spray....lots of lady bugs in the garden...tough choice but have an ant problem as well as flea beetles...won't talk about the slugs.....

Oh well...the challenge is half the fun I suppose...lol

[landtracdeerhunter]

I have been observing worms in my 30 acres of uncut hay. They have chewed the leaves off 50%, leaving the stem and head, other area remain untouched.The rest of the plant starts a dry down process. Finding 1/ sq. ft. They are on the cool, moist, darker soil areas during the day, spreading out as the dew falls.Old leaves , on the soils, seem to be a favorite hiding place. They have traveled over 1 mile, field to field in just 2 nights. The legumes have remained untouched, for now. I have also noticed a fly that is eating the timothy heads. Don't know what that is yet. Now we pay for the mild winter.

[landtracdeerhunter]

Wow, they have moved from Lake Erie to the Watertown area. Think we'll in the second wave now. Seems to be worse than the first here.

watertown army worms.htm

Edited June 17, 2012 by landtracdeerhunter

[dave6x6]

Just saw a picture from Rush NY that my brother took from his phone. Ward Hill rd. was completely covered in the worms to the point where he said it looked like the road was "moving" as they were driving on it. Also Dad said the worms were in Gorham yesterday and were destroying his 54 acre wheat field.

[erussell]

Great, no apples this yr, Tick infestation and crop fields ruined. Now all we need is the acorn crop to fail, an out break of CWD, a drought, and an out break of hemmoragic feaver and the 7 plauges on deer season will be complete!!!