Scout for Armyworms Armyworms have been plaguing Illinois and Indiana for the past two weeks and have moved into Ohio. Below threshold levels of armyworm damage were observed this week in some area wheat and corn fields. Corn fields that were no-tilled into a grass or that are adjacent to a wheat field are at greatest risk. Early this week some wheat and corn fields in NW Licking County were discovered over threshold levels and were being sprayed to control armyworms. Howard Siegrist , OSU Extension Agent, suggested the following regarding armyworms.
Armyworms only eat grasses.
They do not bother broadleaf plants. As opposed to slugs, they eat from the edges of the leaf in towards the center. Early feeding damage is characterized by feeding along the margin of the leaf. In corn, the larva can often be found in the whorl of the plant. Most feeding takes place at night.