Fall Army Worms
What do Fall Army Worms Look Like?
Fall army worms, a type of moth caterpillar, are 1 to 2 inches long and about the width of a #2 pencil when fully grown. They are light tan to shades of gray or green. The head is usually shiny black or brown, with a prominent yellow or white inverted “Y” marking on the front. The body has stripes and many black, round, mole-like structures. Typically, these lawn pests are active spring to fall, with activity peaking June through September.
Signs of a Fall Army worm infestation
When the fall army worms eggs hatch on the underside of the leaves where they’ve been laid, the larvae feed on the plants and grass close to their hatch area. The larvae pose a particular problem for St. Augustine grasses.
Adult fall army worms are swift movers and voracious eaters, stripping a shrub overnight if they move in large numbers. Their damage is equally extensive to grass as they strip the grass blades completely.
