Field library

Armyworm

A caterpillar that sits deep in the funnel of young maize and eats the leaves from inside. You see ragged windows and holes in the new leaves and wet, sawdust-like droppings packed in the funnel. A heavy attack can strip a young crop in a few days, and later the same caterpillar bores into the cob.

How to scout

Walk the field in a W shape and open the funnel of ten plants at five different places, looking for fresh wet droppings and torn leaves.