Black cutworm is a caterpillar pest found mainly on bentgrass golf greens.
The larval stage appears as a smooth bodied, dark coloured caterpillar with longitudinal lines and brown to black spots on back and sides.
When mature the adult black cutworm metamorphoses into a brown moth with a wing span up to 55mm. The fore-wings are purple brown with black markings and hind-wings are grey with brown markings.
What is the biology and lifecycle of a Black Cutworm?
Adult moths lay their eggs in clusters in turfgrass at night and are attracted to the light making turf surfaces around night-lit buildings more susceptible. Cutworm larvae hatch and usually feed during the night and take shelter during the day. These larvae typically cut of young plants at the crown level and pull them into a burrow before feeding hence the name cutworm. Cutworms have two generations per year and overwinter as pupae. Some species of cutworm produce enough generations that adult moths are present throughout the year.
Black cutworm damage appears in low-cut turf when the caterpillar emerges from their subterranean burrow and feeds on the turf plants surrounding the burrow entrance.
This results in a bald patch of turf surrounding the burrow, usually in patches about the size of a golf ball and often resembling a pitch mark.Â
In plague proportions these patches can coalesce to destroy large areas of turf.
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Management Tips for Black Cutworm
Cutworm can take advantage of open core holes following renovation activities, taking up residence and using the core hole as its burrow.
To help manage and control black cutworm, it is important to ensure prompt recovery following renovation.
Mowing with a catcher and disposing of clippings away from susceptible turf areas will ensure eggs are removed from the turf surface the following morning after being laid.
It is recommended to consider insecticide applications as a precautionary measure.
For chemical solutions and treatments for Black Cutworm, please see our recommended products below.
Acelepryn is an insecticide that provides safe and effective control of a wide range of turf-damaging insects while also minimising the impact on the environment.
Quali-Pro Twister is a highly effective insecticide for robust knockdown and residual control of Argentine Stem Weevil, Billbug and African Black Beetle in turf.
Provaunt targets and destroys the lifecycle of Argentine Stem Weevils (ASW). It targets and destroys both adult and larvae (only APVMA registration), including the critical 3rd and 4th Instars.
