Army Cutworms in Alfalfa Army cutworms are the first pests usually reported in crops. The warm fall could have enabled moths to fly back from the Rocky Mountains where they spend the summer and lay eggs in alfalfa. This winter was very long but many areas had insulating snow cover which could have helped overwintering larvae survive. Lack of green up could very well mean an insect problem instead of weather- related winterkill or drought. What few wheat fields we have should also be scouted.
Army cutworms can be serious pests of wheat and alfalfa.
The eggs are laid in the fall. The eggs hatch, the larvae feed for a short time and then overwinter in the soil. They begin feeding as soon as their host crop comes out of dormancy and starts to grow. Army cutworms are brownish-black without any distinguishing markings and will be found in the soil around the crowns of the plants during the daytime. They feed on the foliage above the surface of the ground at night.