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Cutworms are moth larvae that hide under litter or soil during the day, coming out in the dark to feed on plants. A larva typically attacks the first part of the plant it encounters, namely the stem, often of a seedling, and consequently cuts it down; hence the name cutworm. Cutworms are not worms, biologically speaking, but caterpillars.
Each caterpillar can consume three large leaves per day, and it will continue eating into the branches if it finishes the available foliage. Even in the case of defoliation, the species does not generally kill plants. The caterpillars are large and conspicuous and can be controlled by plucking them from the tree. [2]
Caterpillars hatch in late spring to early summer. They develop through five instars to reach maturity. [3] [7] In warmer climates where the first generation emerges earlier in the year, two generations of caterpillars can coexist in a single summer. [4] Once fully grown, caterpillars fall from their host plants to pupate. [7]
The insects are spongy moths (Lymantria dispar dispar, formerly known as gypsy moths), whose caterpillars are a serious threat to oaks and other trees because they are “feeding machines ...
Some caterpillars, like early instars of the tomato hornworm and tobacco hornworm, have long "whip-like" organs attached to the ends of their body. The caterpillar wiggles these organs to frighten away flies and predatory wasps. [18] Some caterpillars can evade predators by using a silk line and dropping off from branches when disturbed.
Lightning strikes kill or injure plants, from root crops like beet and potato, which are instantly cooked in the ground, to trees such as coconut, through effects such as sudden heat and pressure shock waves created when water inside the plant flashes to steam. This can rupture stems and scorch any plant parts. [8] Ozone, a gas, causes injury ...
A helicopter spraying to help control spongy moth caterpillar activity passes over the Oakwood neighborhood in Patton Township on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Abby Drey/adrey@centredaily.com)
S. litura is a general herbivore and takes residence on various plants. [10] The lower and upper limits of habitable temperatures are 10 and 37 °C (50 and 99 °F), respectively. Therefore, it is well suited for tropical and temperate climate regions. [5] As caterpillars, S. litura can only move short distances. However, adult moths can fly up ...