8/30/2023 0 Comments Download winter cutwormIf mild temperatures continue, the alfalfa may regrow, depleting root reserves and reducing spring regrowth and yield. The impact of caterpillar feeding in the fall likely depends on local weather conditions after defoliation. In Michigan, feeding was reported on alfalfa and grass hay, Swiss chard, squash, and sugar beets. The host range of Noctua pronuba is wide and includes beets, cabbage, carrot, grape, grasses, lettuce, potato, strawberry, and tomato as well as numerous ornamental plants and weeds. Thus if a large cutworm-like caterpillar is found late in the fall or during the winter, it is likely Noctua pronuba. However, unlike other caterpillar species winter cutworm is very cold tolerant, emerging even in the winter to feed. In large numbers, caterpillars move across fields and roads, similar to armyworm. They are closely related to other cutworm species found in agricultural fields, feeding at the base of plants and sometimes moving up onto foliage. Noctua pronuba caterpillars are sometimes called winter or snow cutworms. Moths are night-active, found commonly around lights in the later summer and fall. Adults are strong fliers, thus it spread rapidly across the northern U.S. In 1979, this species was found in Nova Scotia. It is native to Europe, where it is one of the most common Noctuid moths. The adult of this species is known as the yellow underwing. The extensive defoliation of hay is one of the first confirmed reports of economic damage attributed to this insect in the U.S. Noctua pronuba caterpillars were found in large numbers in the fall of 2007 in central and northern Michigan extension agents reported thousands of caterpillars around homes and in hay fields. Winter cutworm – Noctua pronuba: First report of economic damage in Michigan
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