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Armyworms invade, destroy
Indiana farms
By Morgan Conklin
Summer
Reporter
Tiny, dark-colored worms with a stripe down their
back are marching through Indiana feeding on tall, lush grass.
Armyworms have earned their name because of their
tendency to move across pastures like a small army in search of food.
Though they are always present in Indiana, large
amounts of armyworms have been plaguing Hoosier farmers and residents
for the past three weeks.
The worms tend to thrive in areas where there is
wheat, corn or long grass; however, they can live in residential areas
if the lawn is not mowed regularly.
This has become an issue for farmers because their
livestock is dependent on grazing in pastures, but are unable to do
so if the worms have consumed the grass in the area, said Larry Bledsoe,
a research and extension entomologist.
The weather has been the key reason why these worms
have made their way to the Midwest from the southwestern states, said
Bledsoe. The windy, rainy weather patterns are causing the moths —
the adult form of the worm larva — to be swept across the states
through the air.
When they land, the moths lay eggs and the resulting
worms do the damage to the pastures and fields.
The worms have become a problem in Indiana for
the first time in more than 50 years, said Jeff Phillips, Tippecanoe
County Agriculture educator. Because this is the first time many agriculturists
have interacted with these worms, there is not a preventative measure
they can offer concerned citizens.
However, if people notice these worms feeding on
their lawns they can buy any armyworm specific insecticide to combat
the problem.
With time, the armyworms will be naturally combated
through pathogens that feed on them, said Phillips. "I think we
are on the downhill side of (the outbreak). The last two weeks have
consisted mostly of control in the wheat fields. We are trying to learn
as much as we can right now to better prevent it in the future."
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Armyworms
invade, destroy Indiana farms
Courthouse
entrance mandate awaits approval
CITY DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111
ext. 250
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send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org
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