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