Armyworms Are Wreaking Havoc Across Texas Invading Lawns and Pastures

They are small but highly destructive and they are slithering their way across Texas and while they may look innocent enough, the armyworm is taking aim at lawns, gardens, pastures across the state.

According to the Dallas Morning News, Armyworms have been hatching across Texas including North and Central Texas and they are hungry. At only about one inch to one and a half inches long, they don't appear as though they would be anything to be concerned with.

What Are Armyworms?

According to the Dallas Morning News, armyworms are caterpillars that can eat their way through a lawn, a garden, and even a pasture in just a few days. They are called armyworms because they tend to slither together. Fall armyworms can vary in color from brown to gray to green to yellow-green according to Texas A&M Agrilife.

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They also have four life stages which are egg, larva, pupa, and then adult. According to the Dallas Morning News, the armyworm eats grass and plants before they turn into moths.

They feast on grass toward the end of their lives as caterpillars, before forming cocoons in the ground and emerging as adult moths, the last stage of their life cycle. Adult moths can lay up to 1,000 eggs in a single night, often on the undersides of leaves or structures, such as fence posts or house siding.

How Are Armyworms Destructive?

According to the Dallas Morning News, the armyworm can go through and eat an entire football field worth of plants and grass in just two or three days. One woman reported that armyworms ate through 16 acres of grass in 48 hours.

How Can You Protect Your Property From Armyworms?

It's suggested that you check for armyworms in the morning and evening since that is when they are most active. Two to three armyworms per square foot may be a good reason to use insecticide to protect crops according to the report.