In the fall, armyworms invade crops in the Midwest and the eastern United States. They are voracious maggots that feed on the leaves of various plants. Armyworms can cause significant crop damage, especially to areas with a high density of susceptible plants. Home gardeners may also be vulnerable as they often grow a wide variety of vegetables and flowers.
Individuals attack plants in waves, feeding at night and leaving before sunrise so that plants can recuperate for nighttime attacks again later in the season. The greatest damage occurs when multiple species of armyworms attack simultaneously or at staggered intervals during peak feeding periods or after destructive storms have scattered their nesting sites over large areas.
What are armyworms?
Armyworms are pests that are not often seen in urban areas. Armyworm is the common name given to a group of invasive moth species in the family Noctuidae, including sphinx moths and giant leopard moths. There are several different types of armyworms in the world: fall armyworm, bertha armyworm, beet armyworm, true armyworm, and the southern armyworm.
An armyworm is an adult male moth that has been outfitted by nature with a long snoutlike appendage (called a rostral organ) that it uses like a nose to find female moths for mating. Male moths have hair-penetrating antennae that allow them to detect female moths from long distances, even when they are hidden by vegetation such as crop coverings or mulch.
Adult female armyworm moths have wings to mate with several males in short order and lay their eggs on plant leaves, where the larvae hatch and eat their way through the host plant.
Why are They a Problem?
The armyworm’s voracious appetite for leaves, its ability to lay eggs and armyworm larvae on plants, and the potential for multiple species to attack simultaneously make them a serious threat. Armyworms feed at night when plants are too weak from daytime activities to resist.
As an armyworm population grows in size, it will tunnel into plant tissues and use its sharp mouthpiece (called a stylet) to cut through plant tissue like a knife. They can damage the plant enough that it starts to die or even fall over.
How Armyworms Can Damage Your Lawn
Armyworms are nocturnal insects; therefore, the damage they cause is largely unseen. They tend to feed on plants at night and then retreat before dawn to feed again later in the season. Adult armyworms can cause significant crop damage, especially to areas with a high density of susceptible plants.
In any case, if you have a patchy lawn, there’s a good chance an armyworm infestation has been responsible for it.
The best way to prevent an armyworm outbreak and ensure that your lawn is protected against these pests is by using insecticides or pesticides designed specifically for lawn use and effective against armyworms.
Different Types of Armyworm Insecticides
Armyworms are difficult to control because they feed at night when people can’t see them. You can use some of these insecticides during the day unless you’re worried about attracting unwanted attention. Insecticide chemicals that kill moths and armyworm eggs are typically fast-acting and last for several weeks. These chemicals work by disrupting the moth’s vision or killing it outright.
Other insecticides work by paralyzing the worm so it can’t move, much like an anesthetic. They also may immobilize the bugs so they can’t ingest the plant material that they eat while feeding on leaves.
How to Choose The Best Armyworm Insecticide: Factors to Consider
Several “best” insecticides are available, but they can be expensive. Before purchasing an insecticide, you must determine which type is best for you and your grass or garden.
If you have a small garden or limited funds, organic pest control may be your best option. Organic pesticides avoid chemical contact with plants by using physical barriers and sprays that are not toxic to people or other animals. You can also improve your chances of success by utilizing beneficial insects in your grass or garden and choosing plants that will provide food sources for these beneficial insects.
If you have sufficient resources to spend on an insecticide, choose one that has a long residual life (blocks the worms from reproducing) and that is labeled for use in organic gardens.
A good insecticide against armyworms should also be a contact poison that can be applied as dust or liquid. A barrier spray that comes in contact with surfaces like soil or walls will also work well.
It’s important to check with your local government about what pesticides are allowed and permitted for use in your area before buying any pesticide to comply with regulations.
Make sure to follow instructions on the label and consult your garden store professional, as they may have different recommendations based on their experience.
The Best Insecticide For Armyworms
Bacillus Thuringiensis
Bacillus thuringiensis is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that produces proteins toxic to certain insect species, including armyworms. This insecticide can be used on your grass, on plants such as the maize crop, and vegetables during the early stages of a worm infestation. It is also safe for use in water and will not harm beneficial insects such as bees. Bacillus thuringiensis can be sprinkled onto foliage or into planting pockets to prevent damage by armyworms before they get a chance to feed.
Spinosad
One armyworm control method is Spinosad, a synthetic pesticide that is effective against many pests. Spinosad kills parasites by disrupting the spore production in their gut and damaging their cells’ nuclei. It prevents new cells from growing, resulting in the pest’s slow death.
Spinosad is not harmful to humans or pets, making it an ideal choice for use around people or animals. A dip made with Spinosad can also be used to prevent armyworm infestation in gardens, farm equipment, and plants. Spinosad may be used in both granular and suspension formulations.
To kill armyworms on contact, you could mix liquid Spinosad with water and spray it onto plants or place granules directly onto your grass and plant leaves where the insects are feeding before they have time to move away from it,
Other Options
Armyworm infestations are most effectively controlled with a variety of insecticides. Other effective options include carbaryl, diazinon, methomyl, and trichlorfon. The choice between carbaryl, diazinon, methomyl, and trichlorfon depends on what you want to accomplish in your garden. Each one has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
Carbaryl is often the first choice as it is cheaper than other chemicals but must be applied every 10 days for maximum effectiveness.
Diazinon is slightly more expensive but lasts longer (up to 3 months).
Methomyl is more expensive than carbaryl but has a more potent effect on adult armyworms and prevents them from laying eggs.
When looking at the differences in toxicity levels among these three chemicals, diazinon produces the most toxic effects on plants, while carbaryl produces the least toxic effects on plants.
Include using orchard-use pesticides such as malathion, carbaryl, diazinon, methomyl, and trichlorfon to control these larvae before they cause extensive damage to crops.
Best Armyworms Insecticide in the Market
Sevin 100530122 GardenTech Insect Killer Concentrate
This insecticide eradicates more than 500 pests on ornamentals, lawns, fruits, vegetables, and around the outside of houses. It is designed to protect more than 250 fruits and vegetables. On tomatoes, peppers, berries, grapes, leafy vegetables, and other items indicated on the label, it may be applied up to one day after harvesting.
Before they enter the house, it exterminates typical household pests like ants, roaches, and spiders outside. And, of course, it kills Armyworms as well.
Monterey LG6332 Bacillus Thuringiensis (B.t.)
This insecticide is intended for use on worm-type insects, including the gypsy moth, fall cankerworm, armyworm, elm spanworm, armyworm, and bagworm, among many others.
Additionally, it is made to be applied to a wide range of plants, including ornamental and shade trees, broccoli, celery, cabbage, turnip greens, mustard greens, cauliflower, melons, lettuce, and tomatoes. It is also appropriate for organic agriculture.
Expert Advice on Applying Insecticides to Deal With Army Worms
Broad-spectrum insecticides are one of the most effective methods of dealing with armyworm infestations. These pesticides kill and repel hordes of pest moths by contact.
If you’re looking for an organic option to control these pests, you should try introducing parasitic nematodes into your garden or your entire lawn. Nematode worms that attack adult moth armyworms can provide longer-lasting protection against these pests.
Conclusion
So what are some of the best ways to deal with armyworms? The best way to deal with armyworms is to prevent them from ever appearing in your garden in the first place. It is good to have an integrated pest management plan for your grass, turf, garden, or lawn to prevent pests from invading your property.
After reading this article, you should know that many different insecticides are available to kill armyworms. When deciding, it is important to remember which insecticide treatment is best for your garden.
