Lawn Armyworm

  • Scientific Name: Spodoptera mauritia

Lawn Armyworm

Scientific Name:

Spodoptera mauritia

Order:

Lepidoptera

How to identify Lawn Armyworm:

Lawn armyworm is a damaging pest when in the larval life stage.

  • The larvae are a soft bodied caterpillar with a dark coloured body up to 45mm long, they possess unique white and yellow striped patterns along the length of the back making them relatively easy to identify. When feeding the larvae often appear in congregations, clumping around stems and foliage of the turf plant.

  • Once mature, the caterpillar metamorphoses into a pale brown moth with a wingspan to 40mm, possesses a distinct white spot in the centre of the fore-wing.

What is the biology and lifecycle of Lawn Armyworm?

The female moth may lay more than 1000 eggs, sporadically in clusters within 4 to 10 days, pending on temperature. The newly hatched armyworms stay together feeding on the same plant until it is devoured. The larvae lawn armyworm are usually most active in the evening or at night, except in overcast weather conditions. During the day they hide under the safety of the lower grass leaves. An armyworm will undergo 6 to 9 instar stages before it is fully developed. This will take 21- 35 days and at a mature instar stage the insect will reach 3-4 cm in length. When fully fed the armyworm will work its way into the soil profile where it pupates. 10-14 days later the moths emerge. There may be 2 or 3 generations of armyworm during the summer and autumn period.

Damage Caused by Lawn Armyworm

Lawn Armyworms are a major pest during summer and autumn, causing severe damage to turfgrass on bowling and golf surfaces where they attack leaves, stems and seedheads. 

  • Infestations in turf gradually extend outwards from gardens or higher cut turf areas as these plants are used as egg laying sites.

  • Severe damage is predominantly caused by the later instar stages and as populations increase, the larger armyworms tend to move in groups into unaffected turfgrass areas, hence the name ‘armyworm’.

Management Tips for Lawn Armyworm

To manage and control lawn armyworm, it is important to maintain constant plant growth during pest pressure as it can assist in recovery and reduce symptoms. It is also key to ensure adequate soil moisture and nitrogen is present.

For chemical solutions and treatments for Lawn Armyworm, please see our recommended products below.

PRODUCT SOLUTIONS FOR Lawn Armyworm

Quali-Pro Twister Insecticide
Active: 320g/L Indoxacarb, 80g/L Novaluron

Quali-Pro Twister is a highly effective insecticide for robust knockdown and residual control of Argentine Stem Weevil, Billbug and African Black B...

Contact us to purchase this item:
Acelepryn GR (Granule) Insecticide
Active: 2g/kg Chlorantraniliprole

Acelepryn GR insecticide provides unmatched, season-long grub and caterpillar control in a single application.

Pack: 4kg
10kg
QTY:
- +
Contact us to purchase this item:
Acelepryn Insecticide
Active: 200g/L Chlorantraniliprole

Acelepryn is an insecticide that provides safe and effective control of a wide range of turf-damaging insects while also minimising the impact on t...

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$140.80
Provaunt Insecticide
Active: 200g/kg Indoxacarb

Provaunt targets and destroys the lifecycle of Argentine Stem Weevils (ASW). It targets and destroys both adult and larvae (only APVMA registration...

Contact us to purchase this item:
Spinner Insecticide
Active: 200g/kg Cyantraniliprole, 200g/kg...

Spinner turf insecticide is a highly systemic insecticide providing rapid control of insect larvae and including Stem Weevil.

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Tempo XTRA Insecticide
Active: 50g/L Imidacloprid, 25g/L Beta-cyfluthrin

Tempo XTRA is a unique dual mode of action insecticide designed to control tough pests in Turf and Ornamental situations.

Contact us to purchase this item:
Tetrino Turf Insecticide
Active: 42.8g/l Tetraniliprole

Tetrino Turf Insecticide controls insect pets in turf including on golf courses, sports fields, bowling greens, race tracks, recreational lawns and...

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Compel Pro Insecticide
Active: 100g/L Bifenthrin

Compel Pro is a unique water-based formulation containing 100g/L of the active ingredient bifenthrin. Compel Pro is formulated for the co...

Pack:
QTY:
- +
$302.50
Nutri Gro Plus

A combination product containing natural insecticides and organic fertiliser for the control of lawn armyworm and African black beetle in turf.

Contact us to purchase this item:
australian agribusiness

Nuturf is a division of Australian Agribusiness (Holdings) Pty Ltd ABN 61 135 355 958

 

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