I received a report that fall armyworms were found in a hay field near Sand Rock in Cherokee County.
At this time it is not a widespread outbreak with very low numbers and it was sporadic across the field. We don’t always get fall armyworms every year because we are too cold. However, if we do get an outbreak of fall armyworms this is the time of year when we will start to see them. Understanding a little bit about their life cycle can help you as you try to stay ahead on treatments. Once the moths come in on thunderstorms or winds from the south, it takes about a month for eggs to hatch, become larvae, pupate in the soil and become moths.
Therefore, at about 2 or 3 weeks after an egg is laid, larvae (caterpillars) will be feeding. You will normally see them start from a tree line and march like an army across the field. A flock of turkeys or crows along a tree line can be a key indicator. There is a new resource by Alabama Extension called the Alabama Fall Armyworm Tracker that can be accessed at https://www.aces.edu/blog/topics/farming/alabama-fall-armyworm- tracker/. This website includes a map as well as information about control options.
