Cutworms - moth caterpillars

Cutworms are the caterpillars of certain species of cutworms, which are moths. These caterpillars are considered pests because they feed on the aerial parts of plants, especially young shoots, flowers and fruits.

Cutworm caterpillars have a cylindrical appearance, with a flexible, segmented body that can reach up to 5 cm in length. They are often dark gray or brown in color, with lighter spots or stripes on their body. Caterpillars have hooks on their rear end, which allow them to attach themselves firmly to plants while feeding.

Moths lay their eggs on the leaves and stems of host plants. The eggs hatch into caterpillars which immediately begin feeding. The caterpillars go through several stages of growth before turning into pupae. The butterflies then emerge from the pupae after a few weeks, and the life cycle begins again.

Cutworm control can include cultural methods such as crop rotation and plant pruning to remove affected parts. Insecticides can also be used to kill caterpillars, but should be used with care as they can also kill other beneficial insects such as pollinators. Pheromone traps can also be used to capture male moths and reduce the population. Biological methods include the use of bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium that produces a toxin that kills caterpillars, as well as the use of Steinernema carpocapsae nematodes, which infect caterpillars and kill them within days.