![]() Add a barrierīarriers can be quite effective in controlling cutworms in smaller gardens. Knowing these facts, you’ll want to keep your garden tidy! Pull weeds regularly and make sure to remove all dead plant material promptly to make your garden less hospitable for cutworms as well as other insect pests. Practice good garden hygiene! Adult cutworm moths typically lay their eggs in dead plant material and low-growing weeds, and weeds also serve as an alternate feeding site for cutworm larvae. Remember to check the ground around each plant, rolling over clumps of soil and other potential hiding spots within a foot of the stem to look for the tightly curled caterpillars. Look for cutworms in the evening, when they are more active, and crush each one or drop them into a container of soapy water. ![]() The larger cutworms get, the more damage they do, so keep an eye out for these pests and take action as soon as you notice cutworm activity. To confirm their presence, run your hand over the soil within one foot of a damaged plant and look for the small caterpillars curled into a C. Wilted plants cut off near the ground are a good indication of cutworms. While damage usually appears just above the soil surface, some species feed on roots or will climb plants to eat leaves, buds, and fruit. Typically, a cutworm will curl around a stem to eat it, often cutting right through it. Although most damage occurs in the spring, it can continue through the summer. New transplants are at the greatest risk of cutworm damage due to their tender stems. asparagus (learn how to grow asparagus).Cutworms feed on a wide variety of vegetable plants, including: Perhaps the best way to identify cutworms is by the damage they cause. They may be difficult to spot, unfortunately, because they feed at night and hide in the soil during the day. ![]() When disturbed, a cutworm will curl up, forming a tight C shape. In general, though, these caterpillars reach up to two inches in length and have a smooth, nearly hairless body. They might be uniformly colored or have stripes, spots, or a glossy appearance. There are multiple species of cutworms, which vary in color, including shades of brown, gray, black, pink, and green.
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