Armyworm Armyworm Pseudaletia unipuncta (Haworth), Noctuidae, LEPIDOPTERA DESCRIPTION Adult - The true armyworm moth has grayish-brown

forewings, each with a white sp ot near the center, and grayish-white hind wings. The wingspan averages 38.5 mm. Egg - The minute, greenish-white egg is globular in shape. Larva - The young armyworm is pale green. The mature larva is basically yellowis h- or brownish-green with a tan or greenish- brown head mottled with dark brown. The smooth, practically hairless body is marked with three longitudinal dark st ripes, one along each side and one down the back. A full grown armyworm is 30 to 35 mm long. Color plate. Pupa - The reddish-brown, 13-mm long pupa darkens gradually until it is almost b lack. BIOLOGY Distribution - True armyworms occur throughout the United States east of the Roc ky Mountains. In North Carolina, they are particularly abundant in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions. During daylight hours, larvae prefer to remain under litter on the ground. Host Plants - Although true armyworms strongly prefer grasses and cereals, they have occasionally been reported to infest various vegetables, fruits, legumes, a nd weeds, especially when they are on the march. Most commonly, however, they ar e pests of corn, sorghum, timothy, small grains, flax, millet, and some wild gra sses. Damage - Preferring to feed at night, armyworms devour succulent foliage. By fee ding on leaves and occasionally stems, they can severely damage seedling stands. In corn, armyworms characteristically feed on the lower leaves and progress tow ard the top of the plant. Leaves of seedlings are completely eaten, but the midr ibs are left on mature plants. Because they feed at night, the worms may inflict much injury before they are detected. Once having exhausted their food supply, the worms migrate as an "army" to new host plants. Fields adjacent to or harbori ng lush grass are most commonly attacked, particularly no-till corn planted into a small grain cover crop. Life History - True armyworms overwinter as partly grown larvae. Early in the sp ring, larvae resume feeding at night, usually on grasses and small grains. First generation adults appear in May or June depending upon climatic conditions. Mot hs mate soon after emergence and feed on nectar for 7 to 10 days. Females then d eposit up to 2000 eggs in small clusters or rows on the leaf sheaths of grasses. About 6 to 10 days later, larvae emerge. After feeding for 3 or 4 weeks, they d rop to the ground and pupate in earthen cells 5 to 7.5 cm deep within the soil. Moths emerge about 2 to 4 weeks later. True armyworms complete five or more gene rations per year in North Carolina. CONTROL Parasites, various diseases, insect predators, and birds usually keep armyworms under control except after cold, wet springs. When practical, cultural methods, such as disking large areas, can help reduce future armyworm populations by expo sing the pupae to natural enemies and host weather. However, since armyworm moth s are strong fliers, most areas will be subject to constant reinfestation. Because armyworms feed exposed, are active during their larval stages, and are s usceptible to several insecticides, they are easily controlled when buildup occu rs. Controls are warranted when defoliation by armyworms averages 20 percent.