What are Cutworms?

Cutworms are insects often found in the lawn and garden and in field crops. They are among the most destructive gardening insects; they strike at night and can completely devastate a garden before morning. They will eat the leaves of your plants and destroy your garden. 

Besides eating the leaves, cutworms chew the plant stems and roots of your plants in your yard or home garden. Cutworms like to eat the stems at or below the soil surface, so their presence is hard to detect until the damage is done. They feed on a wide range of vegetation but especially favor young seedlings and transplants. The damage they cause brings about an indirect impact on crop yield and quality. Cutworm damage can be serious, that is why it is important to identify and control cutworms.

How to Identify Cutworms in the Garden

In terms of appearance, cutworms are comparable. They are roughly two inches long and smooth, with little hairs when completely grown. When disturbed, they usually form a tight ‘C’ shape.

Different species might have distinctive appearances, and their colors can range from brown or tan to pink, green, grey, or even black. While some cutworms have a single color, others have spots or stripes.

The bronzed cutworm, black cutworm, variegated cutworm, glassy cutworm, dingy cutworm, and army cutworm are the cutworm species that are most frequently found in gardens.

What are some of the Damage Caused by Cutworms

Cutworms can attack a variety of plants since they are general eaters. Asparagus, beans, cabbage, and other carrots, celery, corn, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes are some common veggies they enjoy eating. Several species of cutworms even consume turfgrass.

Cutworms feed on the stem by curling their bodies around it. Cutworms are so named because when they consume stems, they wilt young plants. The plant is severed just above the soil’s surface due to this feeding. Each year, the number of cutworms discovered can fluctuate greatly. Your garden may suffer serious harm when its population is large.

How to Get Rid of Cutworms in the Garden

There are several pest control techniques and methods for controlling cutworms. Some of these techniques include: setting up traps, emasculating moths, releasing parasitic wasps, creating a barrier around crops, and using insecticides. 

Insecticides are a very useful tool to keep cutworms and other pests away. Many effective insecticides are available, but not all are safe for everyone or the environment in which they are used. 

Let’s take a look at some effective ways of killing cutworms without harming beneficial insects or the environment in which it is used:

Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap is a branded product that contains mild soap, detergent, and pesticide as well. They are used as part of the process of pest control to kill pests without harming beneficial insects. They are effective against many types of pests, such as cutworms, aphids, and spider mites, without harming humans or the environment.

Insecticidal soap is made from fatty acids such as soap and glycerin. It kills pests by lathering the skin of insects and then drying them out. The fatty acids are toxic to insects, especially cutworms such as the army cutworm and dingy cutworm, because they disrupt the nervous system and cause paralysis of the body. This makes it impossible for the insect to move or fly away from its body, leading to death.

Insecticidal soaps are easy to use and can be applied to crops in various ways, such as spraying on top of the soil or mixing into the water for irrigation purposes.

Cons of Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap is an effective insect control method for killing cutworms, but it also has some important drawbacks. Insecticidal soap is a phosphate-based product that works by disrupting the insect’s waxy covering or surface layer. This layer keeps the insect from drying out and dying, which means it will live long enough to feed on any plant pollen or nectar that it encounters. 

It could also damage some plants if not handled properly. However, despite these few drawbacks, it has been proven to be very effective in dealing with cutworms.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Insecticide

Another effective cutworm control method for controlling cutworms is Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Insecticide. Bacillus thuringiensis is bacterium-producing spores that destroy a pest’s digestive tract. These spores do not affect humans or other beneficial animals, but they will affect most types of insect pests, including various species of cutworms, such as the Agrotis ipsilon, adult moths, and caterpillars.

Due to this, Bacillus thuringiensis is used in many pesticides and has been proven as very effective. Since it is an organic component, it is normally referred to as a biopesticide. Bt insecticides are very effective in controlling cutworms without harming beneficial organisms or causing harm to the environment in which they are used.

Best Insecticide & Pesticide on the Market to Get Rid of Cutworms

Monterey LG6332 Bacillus Thuringiensis (B.t.) Worm & Caterpillar Killer Insecticide/Pesticide Treatment Concentrate, 16 oz 

Monterey LG6332 Bacillus Thuringiensis (B.t.) Worm & Caterpillar Killer Insecticide/Pesticide Treatment Concentrate, 16 oz, is the best insecticide on the market to kill cutworms. Cutworms can cause damage to crops and gardens, and the Monterey LG6332 Bacillus Thuringiensis (B.t.) kills cutworms by attacking their gut cells. This insecticide is safe for use around people and pets and is approved for use in many states.

Bifen I/T Insecticide-Bifenthrin

Cutworms can cause significant damage to crops and are considered a major pest in many areas. Bifen I/T Insecticide-Bifenthrin is considered the best option on the market to kill Cutworms. Bifen I/T Insecticide-Bifenthrin is a contact insecticide that works by damaging the nervous system of Cutworm larvae. This makes them unable to move or eat, ultimately leading to their death. 

Bifen I/T Insecticide-Bifenthrin is effective against various pests, including Cutworm larvae, aphids, and scale insects. It is also safe to use around people and pets, making it an ideal option for use in gardens and farmlands.

Syngenta 73654 Demand CS Insecticide, 8oz, Beige

Demand CS Insecticide, 8oz, Beige is the best insecticide on the market to kill cutworms. It is a selective contact insecticide that acts as an immediate stomach poison to adult cutworms. It has low toxicity to beneficial insects and is non-rinse safe for use around water sources. More than 30 common insects are controlled by demand cs, including spiders, cutworms, ants, flies, wasps, fleas, ticks, and bed bugs.

DIY Cutworm bait for Cutworm Control

One of the most effective biological control methods to kill a cutworm population and other similar pests is with an insecticide bait. Cutworm bait is easy to make using a variety of different methods.

They are safe for the environment because they are not toxic to humans and do not adversely affect beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies. Cutworm baits also break down after some time in the sun or the rain. They can also be easily removed with water when needed.

How to make cutworm bait

To make the bait, you will need

• 1/4 cup of water
• 4 tablespoons of sugar
• 3 tablespoons of flour
• 2 teaspoons of liquid soap

Mix the ingredients in a small jar or plastic container. You can use a potato masher to mash the soap into smaller pieces. Add the water and stir until it is mixed together. Put the mixture in a jar or an aerosol sprayer. 

Place this mixture on plants around your garden or in the soil around plants and watch for cutworms to eat it up. The bait is effective for two weeks but should be replaced every three days.

Checklist of things to remember while using insecticide to Control Cutworms Infestation

To make it easier to find an insecticide that will work for your cutworms, consider some of the following things.

– What is the size of the pest? 

– How long will it take for them to die after being treated with the insecticide? 

– Will the insecticide harm beneficial insects in the area?

Conclusion on The Best Insecticide For Cutworms

Several different cutworm control methods, such as the use of Diatomaceous Earth and pheromone traps, are available to you and can be used to help prevent these destructive worms from causing any damage to your plants. 

You must take the necessary precautions to ensure crop protection at all times and protect your young plants to the best of your ability. By knowing the various cutworm species and the pest control options available to help prevent cutworm infestation, you will be able to make the most informed decision when it comes to purchasing the best insecticide for cutworms.