It’s so exciting when you spot your first red tomato of the season. But when you see armyworm caterpillars in your vegetable garden, there is no time to spare. By the time you see signs of armyworms or armyworm damage it can be an uphill battle. An armyworm infestation can devour a tomato plant in record time. They don’t discriminate. These destructive pests can cause significant damage and will eat the leaves and the fruit, red or green. They don’t just attack tomatoes either — they can destroy most of your vegetable garden plants.
Armyworms can remain hidden from site because they hide in the shade on the underside of leaves during the day. Armyworm larvae vary depending on the different species of armyworm. There are three species of armyworms:
Western Yellowstriped Armyworm – These have two large and many smaller yellow stripes. In the larval stage they are black.
Beet Armyworm – These are pale green with light colored stripes that run down the length of the worm. The eggs are laid and covered with hair-like scales.
Yellowstriped Armyworm – These have two large and many smaller yellow stripes. The larvae are black.
The good news is once you spot them there are five strategies for armyworm control. You can save your plants from these garden pests, but act fast!
1.) Pull them off the plant and drop them in a bucket of soapy water, or stomp on them. Be sure they are dead, so they don’t just crawl right back into your garden. This can be a fun activity for kids in the garden.
Let us know if you have tried any of these and how they worked for you.
If you want to read more about armyworms see these articles below.
How to Manage Pests
The Best Way to Get Rid of Armyworms on My Tomatoes
