Armyworm Facts & Information

What You Can Do

Here are some helpful things to do when combating armyworms:

• Inspect for spots of dead or unhealthy grass, which is often the first sign of an armyworm infestation.

• Check lawn thatch for armyworm webbing.

• Remove thatch. If practical, rent or purchase a lawn-dethatching machine.

• Keep crabgrass out of your lawn because armyworms often use it as a host.

• Pull off armyworm larvae from garden plants.

• Water and nourish the lawn, especially during droughts. A healthy lawn may be able to tolerate a minor, low-level armyworm infestation without using insecticides.

• Contact your pest management professional to find out if insecticides are necessary. If the armyworm infestation is widespread and armyworm numbers are large, insecticides may be necessary.

What Orkin Does

Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage armyworms and similar pests. Since every building or home is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique moth treatment program for your situation.

Orkin can provide the right solution to keep armyworms in their place and out of your home or business. For more help getting rid of armyworms, contact your local Orkin branch today.

What are armyworms?

The name armyworm comes from the moth’s migration into crop fields or grassy pastures during its larval stage. The massive migration is similar to an invading army. Pseudaletia unipuncta is usually considered to be the "true armyworm" and different from other moth species that include "armyworm" in their common name.

What do armyworms look like?

The adult moth’s forewings are pale brown with a white dot near the center of the wings. Its hind wings are gray with white-tinged wing edges. The moth has a 1 1/2-inch wingspan. During daylight, adult moths hide in grass and at nighttime, they are adept and active flyers.

Where do armyworms lay their egg masses?

Females have an interesting way of hiding their eggs. The egg mass is covered by a sticky substance produced by the female. As the substance dries, it forms an adhesive that glues the foliage leaves together to protect and hide the eggs from potential predators.

What do armyworms eat?

True armyworms are pests of many different kinds of vegetation, including crops, pasture grasses and lawn grasses. They prefer corn, oats, rye, sugarcane and wheat crops. In commercial or home gardens, they may feed on beans, cabbage, carrots, corn, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, radishes and sweet potatoes.

What is the life cycle of armyworms?

True armyworms overwinter as larvae when partially developed. As soon as spring begins, larvae continue nighttime feeding, customarily on small plants, grains, and grasses. Female moths have the ability to lay up to 2,000 eggs. About six to 20 days later, larvae emerge. After feeding for two to four weeks, they move down to the ground and pupate in the soil. Fully developed moths appear approximately two to four weeks later. The number of generations per year depends on the location: two to three per year in the northern part of the U.S. and as many as four to six in the southern portion of the U.S. Since populations of larvae are often very large, serious plant damage can suddenly appear over a short span of time.