Fall Armyworms Continue to Spread Across Kansas

Fall armyworms have been steadily increasing in Kansas since mid-June, with pheromone trap counts continuing to rise throughout September. The moths are a significant pest of various crops, including alfalfa, wheat, and triticale.

Another potential fall pest, the army cutworm, has been detected in western Kansas since early September. These moths typically migrate into Kansas from their summering locations in the Rocky Mountains.

The female army cutworm moth can lay up to 1,000 eggs, and after hatching, the caterpillars will feed until cold weather forces them below ground. They will complete their growth next spring as the weather warms up and then burrow into the soil to pupate.