INFO-BUG

Crop Selected: Wheat
Crop Development: Late spring maturation
Pest Selected: Armyworm (also common or true armyworm [CAW]) Pseudaletia unipunta (Haw.)

Biology

Adults of the common armyworm become active in late April and early May and are attracted to grassy crops including small grains.

Larvae of CAW become active in late May and early June, when they feed on the wheat foliage and emerging heads. The most obvious damage occurs when CAW larvae feed on the stems clipping the heads completely off.

Serious damage occurs when head clipping occurs. Such damage may be significant when CAW larvae are abundant.

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CAW larva

Assessment

Infestations of CAW often can be detected initially along field margins and low-lying areas. Detection of foliar feeding injury or clipping damage indicates a need for close inspection of heads and debris on the ground to locate presence of CAW larvae.

If head clipping is prevalent, 3 to 4 larvae can be found per linear foot of row, and CAW larvae are not full grown (larvae are predominately 1 inch in length or less), then a rescue treatment may be warranted.

Control

Materials recommended for rescue treatment include:

Labeled on oats & wheat

Lannate* SP @ 1/4-1/2 lb/A & LV @ 3/4-1 1/2pt/A
Malathion 5 @ 1-1 1/2 pt/A and 57 @ 2 pt/A
Penncap-M* @ 2 to 3 pt/A.
Tracer @ 1.5 to 3 fl oz/A

Labeled only on wheat

Sevin XLR PLUS & 4F @ 1-1 1/2 qt/A and 80S @ 1 1/4-1 7/8 lb/A
Warrior* 1CS @ 2.56 to 3.84 fl oz/A

*Use is restricted to certified applicators

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