Yellowstriped Armyworm – Spodoptera ornithogalli

Yellowstriped Armyworm – Spodoptera ornithogalli Scientific Name: Spodoptera ornithogalli Common Name: Yellowstriped Armyworm Distribution: Spodoptera ornithogalli (Guenée), the yellow-striped armyworm, is widespread in southern Canada and the eastern United States up to the Rocky Mountains. But reports of it have also come from areas in the Southwest, such California. This natural bug may be found across the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Mexico. Host plants: Numerous herbaceous plants, such as ornamentals, alfalfa, asparagus, bean, beet, cabbage, maize, cotton, cucumber, tomato, weeds, and wild onions are among the foods that yellow-striped armyworms consume. Identification: Caterpillars may grow up to 2 inches long and range in color from little green to huge, nearly black. In addition to a noticeable black patch on the sides of the fourth body segment, which is the first legless abdominal segment, behind the head, they have two cream-colored to orangish stripes along the length of their backs. Inside the pale stripes on the rear of each body segment, partially developed larvae appear to have pairs of triangular black marks. The wingspan of an adult moth is between 1-1/2 and 1-3/4 inches. It is possible to identify armyworm caterpillars by looking at the front of the head capsule. They feature marks in bright colors that resemble an inverted Y along the “face’s” seams, or sutures. Life Cycle: Pupae overwinter in the soil. Early April marks the start of adult emergence, which lasts until May. masses of eggs scattered throughout plants, trees, or structures. Larvae eat for three weeks after hatching, which takes roughly six days. Larvae in their sixth instar dig underneath pupae. In two weeks, moths emerge. The life cycle spans four to six weeks. Every year, three to four generations. Craving mouthparts are found in caterpillars. Adults’ mouths are siphoning. One of the most frequent caterpillars seen in vegetable gardens, it feeds during the day on leaves. After removing the leaves from one plant, caterpillars go to the next food source that becomes available. Larvae feed on a wide variety of plants, however some species, such cotton, tomatoes, chrysanthemums, forages, and turfgrasses, are favored hosts. Larvae in cotton also burrow into the growing cotton bolls. Damage: Armyworms are mostly eaters of foliage, although they will also attack fruit, leaving single, closely spaced, round, or uneven holes on its surface. Often feeding is superficial, and if it weren’t for decay organisms that get into wounds and destroy fruit, there would be minimal loss. Leaves are skeletonized by young armyworms, while adult larvae eat holes. Peppers planted close to bean or alfalfa fields may have problems from the western yellow-striped armyworm. The fruit is not penetrated by the yellow-striped armyworm, and infections peak between July and mid-September. Management: Although yellow-striped armyworms are not a major annoyance every year, they can occasionally do great damage. When cut, armyworms prefer to travel out of the weedy and alfalfa areas surrounding the field where they have accumulated. Armyworms only require management if they consume the crop. Reduce the number of weeds and agricultural debris in the field and its environs to decrease its allure. With the steep side facing the peppers, a deep trench may be dug around the field’s boundaries. This will frequently stop armyworm larvae from entering the crop.