Taxonomy

Domain	Eukarya
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Arthropoda
Subphylum	Hexapoda
Class	Insecta
Subclass	Pterygota
Infraclass	Neoptera
Superorder	Holometabola
Order	Lepidoptera
Superfamily	Noctuoidea

Scientific Name

Noctuidae

Scientific Name Synonyms

Aganaidae

Hypsidae

Common Name

cutworms, loopers, owlet moths, and underwings

Author: Dr. Steve L. Brown, Dr. Will Hudson, University of Georgia.

Description

Cutworms common in Georgia fields are black (Agrotis ipsilon (Ashmed)), granulate (Agrotis subterranea (Fabricius)) and variegated cutworms (Peridroma saucia (Hubner)). These are moths in the family Noctuidae.

Full-grown cutworm larvae are 1.5 to 2 inches long. Coloration will vary among species, but all tend to be stout-bodied caterpillars with four sets of prolegs. They have the tendency to curl into a ball when disturbed.

Hosts

Almost any plant can be attacked in the seedling stage. Cotton and certain vegetables sometimes have stand reductions. Climbing cutworms, such as the granulate cutworm, can be serious foliage feeders on some crops such as peanuts.

Damage

Seedlings are girdled at the soil line, and stands may be significantly reduced in some cases. Foliage and peg damage occur in peanuts.

Life Cycle

Life cycles vary among the different species. Several generations may occur each year, but overwintering larvae and the first generation in the spring are the most damaging. Larvae overwinter in the soil, especially in grassy or weedy situations.

Control

Fall and spring cultivation will help reduce populations of overwintering larvae. Insecticides are effective if applied in a timely manner and directed at the soil around the base of the crop plants.

Originally compiled from

Ellis, H.C. and D. L. Horton. Cutworms. The University of Georgia.