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Armyworms big concern for Missouri pastures

Farmers are advised to scout their pastures for True Armyworms which have been spotted in several areas of Missouri, mostly in southern Missouri.

University of Missouri Extension Entomologist Wayne Bailey tells Brownfield these moths typically come up from Mexico in the month of June, every five years or so. It’s been five years and they are here more than a month early. Armyworms damage grass pastures, corn and wheat – and Bailey says – they’ve seen armyworms in all three.

“The corn, it’s very isolated at this time. On the wheat plants we are getting some foliage feeding in some fields – have not seen any head cutting and they may not cut heads, just depends on the year. But, grass pastures, by far, the problem we’re worried about at the moment.”

Armyworms are in very high numbers in Arkansas and, Bailey says, they’re moving their way north.

“At this time, they’re relatively small but they go through seven worm stages and they go through each of these stages they go through more and more. We’re concerned that we could lose a lot of fescue in the fields.”

Bailey says he heard today (Monday) of a farmer losing 50 acres of fescue and another losing 25 acres to Armyworms.

Scouting is highly recommended, in early morning or late afternoon, on cloudy days.

“If you have the grass pastures, you need to go in and look at the stubble around the base of the plant, look at the lower leaves of the plant. Any feeding damage itself is where they will often eat into the plant from the side of the leaf in very smooth wounds. And, also, you’re looking for larvae.”

If there are four armyworm larvae per square foot, he says, you probably need to treat. There are a limited number of insecticides for pastures – but he says Mustang Max and Warrior 2, work pretty well.

Bailey adds that farmers need to be careful with time between spraying and grazing-or-haying – which can span up to 14 days for some insecticides.

AUDIO: Wayne Bailey (7:00 mp3)

University of Missouri Extension – True Armyworms a concern