Rachael Brooke - Phillips-Rooks District Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Many areas throughout Kansas have massive numbers of moths flying around outdoors and entering homes. These are army cutworm adults. The army cutworm adults have dark, gray-brown forewings with distinct markings, including a kidney bean-shaped marking on the upper part of the forewings. Adult females lay eggs in the fall with caterpillars emerging from eggs from fall through winter. The caterpillars (larvae) feed on alfalfa and wheat. Army cutworms overwinter as larvae in the soil. Adults emerge from pupae located in the soil in May. Outbreaks of army cutworm can occur every 10 to 15 years. There is one generation per year in Kansas.
For more information, please contact the local K-State Research and Extension Office.
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