“I have had several calls regarding the Fall Armyworm (FAW) in lawns and pastures,” said Bobby R. McCool, County Extension Agent, San Patricio County.
FAWs, seemingly overnight, will consume large areas and leave nothing but stems. Although it looks bad, and unless there are secondary issues, the lawn or pasture will green-up and back rapidly once the FAW has completed its cycle or been controlled, and good growing conditions occur. There is a good possibility where bermuda grasses of various types are green and growing there will be FAWs. “There are other grass species that can be affected but, in our region, it tends to be bermuda grass that takes the biggest hit. Below is some information I extracted from a fact sheet, Fall Armyworm Control in Pastures by Dalton C. Ludwick, Sonja L. Swiger, and David L. Kerns Extension Entomologists, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, that could be a help if you think FAWs are present in your pastures, hay fields or lawns,” McCool added.
FAW caterpillars live for two to four weeks depending on the temperature. Freshly emerged caterpillars will begin to feed on the leaves and make small transparent areas (windowpanes), giving the grass a frosted appearance. As they grow and molt, the caterpillars will begin to consume the entire leaf. The larger the caterpillar, the more damage they cause. Smaller caterpillars are easier to control. During their last few days as a caterpillar, when they are 1-1.5” in length, they consume about 80% of all the leaf tissue they will consume in their lifetime…