Crops Affected: Corn and sorghum. Wide range of other crops may be affected, including alfalfa, grains, cotton, clover, peanut, rice, sugarbeet, soybean, sugarcane, tobacco, apple, grape, orange, peach, strawberry and ornamental flowers.

States Affected: CO, WY, MT, TX, OK, KS, NE, SD, ND, AR, MO, IA, MN, WI, IL, IN, MI, OH, PA, NY, NJ, DE, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME, WV, MD, VA, KY, TN, NC, SC, GA, FL, LA, MS, AL

Life Cycle: In high larval numbers, these insects strip favored plants of leaves by adopting an "armyworm" behavior and spreading in large swarms, devouring nearly all vegetation in their path. Their life cycle can be as brief as 30 days, with one to four generations yearly depending on the climate. In mild winter regions, they may persist year-round. Typical egg masses contain 100 to 200 eggs, covered by a layer of grayish scales, giving them a furry or moldy appearance. Pupation typically occurs in shallow soil, where larvae create loose oval cocoons by binding soil particles or leaf debris with silk. Adults are nocturnal and display differing wing colors between males and females.

Damage: Larvae inflict damage by consuming foliage. Initially, young larvae feed on one side of the leaves, leaving the opposite epidermal layer intact. As they progress to the second or third instar, they create holes in the leaves and consume from the edges inward. When larvae feed in close proximity, a characteristic row of perforations often appears in the whorl of corn leaves, but cannibalistic behavior usually reduces larval densities to one or two per plant. Older larvae cause significant defoliation, often leaving only the corn plant's ribs and stalks or giving the leaves a torn, ragged appearance.

Season to Trap: April to October. Year-round where winters are mild.

How To Use: Hang trap with lure inside at shoulder height near at risk or affected crops. Replace lures every 30 days through the season, and replace traps when 70% saturated. Adult males are attracted to the pheromones in the lure and the color of the traps in this kit. Once they land on the sticky trap, they become ensnared, never to mate or lay eggs again.

Additional IPM Solutions: Avoid practices that destroy or disrupt native beneficial insects. Utilize beneficial nematodes to target pupae in the soil. Employ insecticides such as B.t. to maintain larva-free plants in the vegetative stage, reducing the frequency of required sprays during silking. Consider planting early-maturing corn varieties.