Invaded by armyworms

[RPW]

I've been invaded by armyworms. Heard a news report on how the buggers are worse this year due to the recent rains. Went and checked my fields and they're everywhere. I've been keeping my fields taller so the horses would have more grazing but I've lost one complete field already and an spraying the rest. Now if the rain would let up.

 

[Tx Jim]

They're here in N Texas with a vengeance. I hope the floods we've gotten will drown some of them.

 

[atsah]

What the he!! are armyworms?

 

[the old grind]

Larvae of the pine sawfly up here in MI, IIRC. 'Ours' are OD green in color and every so many seconds they sway in precise unison, as if following a military command. This spooks predators away and may startle human observers.

Some guys fret when the see 'regiments' of 'em munching on pine needles (esp the many reds), not realizing that there are no three year old pine needles. Branches once laid bare are scarcely recognizable within two seasons as new growth expands a tree's crown and covers the bleak limbs they had cleaned off.

All that said, it could be a lot different if they attacked forage crops and barely left anything.

This is from experience and memory. Google info may supersede mine. t o g

Edit: I Googled army worm and read that there is more than one specie so named, others being a moth that loves grasses. The best organic control is said to be BT, a favorite of mine. Carbaryl (Sevin) works but is not the best or cheapest option.

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

We've had a plague of tent caterpillars the last couple of years, I'm told because of unusually warm winters.

There's a nontoxic chemical called Safer Caterpillar Spray that works great on the ones I can reach (and also works in your garden against all the various caterpillar pests). But I can't reach the tent caterpillars because they're 40-50' high.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Between army worms and stem maggots and daily rain it's been a tough hay season down here in Florida as well.

 

[oosik]

RPW - so, now we have an idea what army worms are - Where are YOU and your invading army???

 

[M5farms]

I Have sprayed 4 times so far. Last week I had a short window and was able to cut . It is the worst infestation I've ever had,.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I Have sprayed 4 times so far. Last week I had a short window and was able to cut . It is the worst infestation I've ever had,.

Have you had a problem with stem maggots as well, or just army worms ?

 

[EddieWalker]

Army worms are really bad here in East Texas right now. The Bermuda around my land is being eaten up by them. I haven't sprayed yet, but hope to some time this week. Seems like a lot of people are posting about it, including home owners that have them in their lawns.

 

[M5farms]

Have you had a problem with stem maggots as well, or just army worms ?

Surprisingly NO, last year stem maggots were bad but this year not so much.

 

[RPW]

Well got 1small field sprayed yesterday but sprayer pump burnt out. New one on order but won't be here till end of week. Will probably shred short as I understand it armyworms don't like cut grass or short grass. Hope it saves the rest of my fields.

 

[RPW]

Looks like we dodged a bullet on one field. Looked at it last night and only found one worm. We'll be keeping an eye on it.

 

[M5farms]

Looks like we dodged a bullet on one field. Looked at it last night and only found one worm. We'll be keeping an eye on it.

about 14 days and those will be moths ready to lay eggs again.

 

[Mace Canute]

We get tent caterpillars here. Last year south of town. From: '''They just keep coming''': Tent caterpillar invasion coats Sask. home in insects — and feces | CBC News

 

[radios1]

We get tent caterpillars here. Last year south of town. From: '''They just keep coming''': Tent caterpillar invasion coats Sask. home in insects — and feces | CBC News

God NO!!. Ortho home defense spray will kill those fast enough!..

 

[Fastball]

We used to get tent caterpillars and spruce budworm larvae in northern Canada. They were on a cycle of every 5-odd years. They munched through spruce trees like...well, an army. Entire swaths of trees dead...all that tinder-dry deadwood contributing to the terrible forest fires that are happening lately. When we were kids, we used to run over them with our bike tires until the streets got too squishy. We had the odd car that lost traction when they crossed the pavement.

 

[GLyford]

At least when we get tent caterpillars they are in small isolated clumps, nothing like that.

Gypsy moth caterpillars have been rough, we have been hitting them with BT and it was finally wet enough this year that the other natural fungi etc. helped knock them back so most of our trees were able to recover. Been a number of oaks that were already drought stressed that didn't make it, I see a number of danger trees on my commute that need to come down. Local tree service just got new trucks and cranes, they are going to be busy for a while.

Our problems aren't as bad as you guys, but I sympathize.

 

[gsganzer]

I got wiped out by army worms. They wiped out my yard and pasture, 7 acres total. I was away, so no chance to mount a defense and spray. My wife said it only took a matter of days.

 

[Turbys_1700]

My 87 year old mother called me yesterday frantic about army worm infestation in her yard. Called my son who works at the golf course where she lives to see if he could help out. They were out of spray so some was ordered. Should be here by tomorrow and all is well hopefully. Never had those buggers here at my place for some reason.