Cutworm: How to Control Them Naturally

Cutworm

Noctuidae (owlet moth family)

Soft, usually gray or brown caterpillars that feed at night near the soil surface and cut young plants off at the stem.

How to control cutworm

Use: Ecomask Spray (also works: Scanmask Spray, Ecomask Topdressing, Scanmask Topdressing)
When: March to July, especially before seeding or planting.
Where: The area you're about to seed or plant.

What it looks like

"Cutworm" is a general name for the larvae of many kinds of moths. Cutworms are soft-bodied caterpillars that come in many colors, but are often gray or brown. The adult moths don't harm plants.

Cutworms have 1 to 5 generations per year, depending on the species. The larvae usually spend the winter in the soil or in garden debris, and do the most damage in early spring.

Damage

Cutworms feed on plants near the soil surface, often cutting young plants off at the stem, which is how they got their name. Some kinds also climb plants and eat the leaves. They feed at night and usually burrow into the soil during the day.

How nematodes help

The beneficial nematodes hunt down and kill cutworms in the soil. They stop the larvae from doing more damage and keep them from growing into moths and reproducing.