There has been an increase of insect infestations this growing season around the state. Two of the more widespread pests have been lepidoptera larvae (worms): the fall armyworm and the armyworm. These pests could become problematic for our fall planted wheat and alfalfa.

Fall armyworm (FAW) - adults are a light brown/dark brown mottled color and are typical of the noctuid moths, which mainly hide during the day and fly around depositing eggs at night. Adults cause no problems other than depositing the eggs from which the voracious feeding larvae hatch. These larvae feed on just about anything green and have been a problem this year, mainly in brome fields and other grassy areas in Eastern KS. Larvae can be identified by the 4 dark spots, in the form of a square, on the top of the 8th abdo

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