CUTWORM 
DAMAGE
CUTWORMS
Cutworms are frustrating pests in the garden.
They are the larvae (in caterpillar form) of
night-flying moths. While the moths
themselves do no harm to crops, the larvae,
called cutworms, destroy young plants by
eating the stems at or near ground level.
Cutworms aren’t that easy to spot anyway
since they hide during the day in the soil. At
night, they come out and feed on the base of
plants. Some types of cutworms climb up to
feed higher on plant stems and the damage
will be higher. In all cases, the largest larvae
do the most cutworm damage.
IDENTIFICATION
Some species of cutworms feed
underground, while others feed above.
Cutworms are common on a wide variety of
vegetables and any fresh seedlings. To
identify them, try patrolling your garden in
dusk and evening hours, when cutworms
will begin to feed. They are also partial to
cloudy days.
Cutworm Damage in the Garden Identifying
cutworms is not as easy as you might think
since different species are different colors.
Some are black, brown, grey or tan while
others can be pink or green. Some have
spots, other stripes, and even soil hues.
In general, the cutworms won’t get more
than 2 inches (5 cm.) long and if you pick
them up; they curl into a C shape.
 Crop rotation
Cutworms chew through plant stems at the
base. They primarily feed on roots and
foliage of young plants, and will even cut off
the plant from underneath the soil. In most
cases, entire plants will be destroyed; they
do a lot of damage in no time at all. Even if
only the bottom of the plant is destroyed, the
top will often shrivel and die.
In the summer, cutworms sometimes crawl
to the tops of plants and do damage there. Be
careful not to mistake this damage for slug
damage.
CONTROL METHOD
CULTURAL PRACTICE
 Enhancement of soil fertility
 Water management
 Monitoring/screening
 Make plant collars. THE CUTWORMS

IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School
 Hand picks. Go out at night with a
Department of Dry land Agriculture and
flashlight and gloves. Pick off the
Natural Resources Management
cutworms and drop into soapy water;
repeating this every few nights. Name= Abas Adam Abdullahi
 A mulch of oak leaves is useful
against cutworms. Phone No= 0618815170
 Birds are another natural predator to
cutworms. Gmail. cabasilmiyow114@gmail.com

PLANTS AFFECTED
 Beans
 Cabbage
 Corn
 Lettuce
 Tomato