NEWS FLASH – We found cutworms today! When you are out looking at your fields, especially your winter seeded crops, make sure to take a close look under the trash cover. These fellows were found in a Triticale field north of Coaldale, AB.
Cutworms are named for their annoying habit of cutting down seedlings, usually right at or near the soil surface. They vary in color and markings according to species, but a common behavior of cutworms is their tendency to curl into a letter C shape when disturbed. Cutworms generally overwinter as larvae, so they’re ready to feed as soon as temperatures warm and the crops are planted and start emerging. By late spring, the caterpillars have tunneled into the soil to pupate. Adult moths emerge in summer, when they mate and lay eggs. A singe female may lay hundreds of eggs, often on weeds in the crop. The new generation of larvae feed until temperatures drop low enough to send them into hibernation for winter.
Please, check your fields! If you are not sure what you are looking for, the team here at McRae Holdings would be happy to check things out for you.
From Amanda Archibald, Agronomist with McRae Holdings.
