Larvae exhibit three different feeding habits depending on the stage of growth. The late second and early third instars eat holes in the leaves. Larvae then move from the leaf area into the soil and begin feeding by cutting plants at the soil surface. Sometimes black cutworm damage is spotty in fields, and replanting these areas may be more economical than applying chemical controls. For control on cabbage, english peas, irish potatoes, and spinach, use applications of Sevin insecticide.
Cutworm activity occurs mostly in late afternoon.
Therefore, time your application to coincide with their activity. Timing insecticide applications are important in your total insect program. They suck plant juices causing leaves to curl and turn yellow. They may also inject poisonous saliva or disease-causing organisms during feeding. They may cause a failure of bloom set in some vegetable crops.