Agrotis ypsilon and A. exclamation

Occurring in any month between March and November, it is however most numerous between June and October.

It can turn up almost anywhere. The larvae feed on or below the ground and at night, on various herbaceous plants and their roots. This pest has solitary habits. They commonly feed on seedlings at ground level, cutting off the stem and sometimes dragging the plants into their burrows. Most of the plant is not consumed but merely eaten enough to cause it to topple. Since the larvae occur burrowed near the roots of the host, it sometimes feeds on roots and the below ground stem. Because of the nature of their feeding on young plants, this pest can do great damage in newly planted fields and in grass area.

Cutworms are often difficult to control, especially when populations are epidemic in proportion. Large populations may cause severe crop damage with indications that the pest is the black cutworm. Unfortunately, by the time the pest is identified, the cutworms would have already developed into a life stage which is not as susceptible to insecticides as the early larval stages. The sporadic nature of cutworm populations can make preventive treatments futile in some areas.

If you see any abnormal in your garden, contact a specialist immediately, before it is too late.

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