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A cutworm feeding on a young plant. Photo by John C. French Sr., Retired.
Scientific Names
Agrotis and Euxoa spp.
Biology
Cutworms are the immature stages of several moth species that are active at night. Cutworm moths prefer to lay their eggs in fields that are weedy and grassy. The moths lay the eggs on the stem or leaf which then hatch 2-14 days later. Some cutworms overwinter in the soil as pupae or adults, but most do so as small larvae. These overwintering larvae live in cells in the soil under clumps of grass or other waste material. Feeding begins in the spring and continues until early summer. Larvae tend to stay underground during the day and feed at night. The most common cutworms in sorghum cut off plants just above the soil. Others feed underground. The presence of cutworms is determined by looking for the visible damage they cause. Some cause severed or dead dying plants by cutting the plants while others feed on leaf material.
Positive Identification
This image shows the common cutting damage caused by some cutworms and shows their “C” shaped rolling behavior which is helpful for identification. This also shows a common cutting damage from one of these caterpillars. Photo by Clemson University-USDA Cooperative Extension.
Cutworms look like many other caterpillars, but they are particularly plump. When disturbed will curl into a C shape. Larvae vary in color from grayish white, grayish black to brown. They can become up to 2 inches long.
Although we tried to include the most significant pests related to sorghum our tool cannot help you identify every insect found on sorghum. This tool is built to inform you of the most common and significant pests of sorghum in Texas. If the insect you are dealing with does not match the description above then talk to your extension agent or visit this page to look at all the different important potential pest associated with each part and growth stage of sorghum. For management information of a specific pest talk to your local extension office.
First cutworm photo by John C. French Sr., Retired, Universities:Auburn, GA, Clemson and U of MO, Bugwood.org
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License.
Cutworm curling photo by Clemson University – USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series, Bugwood.org
Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.