Lesson 3: Oriental Armyworm

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Lesson 3 Oriental Armyworm
The moth has brownish fore wings with dark
specks hind wings are whitish-brown. Eggs are
laid in batches of 20 to 100 within the leaf
sheath, the leaf folds, or on the soil. The eggs
are shiny white and spherical, and have fine
ridges. The larva emerges from the eggs in 4-5
days.
Armyworm Moth
Source CSIRO Entomology
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Lesson 3 Oriental Armyworm
The fully grown larva is dirty pale brown to dark
brown with three darker brown dorsal lines. There
is a lateral yellow stripe on each side. The
entire larval stage usually lasts from 29 to 39
days. Outbreaks of this armyworm occur after
heavy rains, floods, and drought following heavy
rains or mulching of fields.
Armyworm Larvae
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Lesson 3 Oriental Armyworm
Crop damage The larvae feed on the leaves,
leaving only the midrib uneaten (Fig.). The
immature ear-heads are also damaged. Army-worm
attacks are sporadic but, if heavy, an entire
crop may be lost.
Armyworm damage
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Lesson 3 Oriental Armyworm
Management Clean cultivation and lower
plant population help in reducing insect damage.
A number of hymenopterans and dipterous
parasites help to check the building pest's
population. BHC, Carbaryl, Phosphamidon, and
Monocrotophos give effective control of the
larvae.