Fall armyworm outbreaks occurring in turf and field crops.

We are in the early stages of what could turn out to be a major outbreak of fall armyworms. Two weeks ago people were wondering about the small egg masses appearing on kids outdoor play sets, the leaves of turf grasses, and grassy weeds such as foxtail. At this point the eggs have hatched and small, ¼-inch long, striped worms have been actively feeding.

Check bluegrass and fescue lawns, sod production fields, bromegrass pastures, grassy pivot margins, weedy field crops, and cropland margins (roadside ditches, fence rows) now to see if worms are actively feeding. Look for the following: holes eaten partway through leaves (leaving a "window pane" appearance), notches chewed from leaf margins and evidence of green droppings on the soil surface. On sunny days, scratch the soil surface and examine debris to see if worms are hiding under it. When it's cloudy, you may see the worms actively feeding on the leaves. Normally, feeding is done at night and worms hide during the day.

The worms themselves are usually dark in color, ranging from light tan to green or nearly black. Worms have three yellowish white hairlines down the back from head to tail. On the sides is a wider dark stripe and a wide yellow stripe, splotched with red. Look on the head, for an upside-down, white "V-shaped" marking. Worms may range in size from one inch to 1¼ inches as they approach maturity. Once mature, they bore into the soil, transform to the pupa stage and after about two weeks emerge as night-flying "millers". The moth is dull gray with gray wings with a white blotch near the tip of the forewings. Hind wings are whitish gray.

In addition to turf grasses, fall armyworms can severely damage corn, alfalfa and other field crops. Be sure to check commercial and residential turf and crop production fields closely now!

For commercial applicators, the following are options for FAW control on turf: acephate (Orthene), bifenthrin (Talstar), carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos (Dursban), deltamethrin (DeltaGard), halofenozide (Mach 2), lambda-cyhalothrin (Scimitar), and spinosad (Conserve).

Homeowners have the following options on turf: acephate (Orthene), Bt (Dipel, MVP II), carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos (Dursban), diazinon, and permethrin (Eight).

Farmers attempting to control FAW in pastures have the following choices (source Kansas State University Entomology Newsletter, 2000): carbaryl (Sevin), malathion and Bt (Biobit, Javelin).

In corn the following can be used for Armyworm@ control: permethrin (Ambush), esfenvalerate (Asana), chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) and permethrin (Pounce).

In alfalfa, options for defoliating caterpillars include the following: malathion, carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos (Lorsban), permethrin (Ambush, Pounce) or Bt (Javelin, Agree).

	Fall armyworm egg masses deposited on the underside of plastic swing from swing set on bluegrass lawn.
	Larvae hatching from large egg mass attached to underside of swing in early evening.
	Young fall armyworm and "window-pane" damage to grass blade.
	Mature fall armyworms.
	Head of fall armyworm with distinctive, upside-down white "V-shaped" marking.