The field should not have a cutting problem if only dingy cutworms are found. If it is determined that the field has black cutworms, then mark off 100 plants in a row with stakes or flags and scout these same plants for cutting over the next several days. By monitoring the same set of plants over time, a more reliable picture of cutworm activity can be developed. Leaf feeding from dingy or black cutworm. Dingy cutworms have these four tubercles equal in diameter.
Black cutworm has four tubercles of unequal diameter on the top of each body segment.
Crane fly larvae are common in no-till or conservation tillage fields. They feed on dead organic matter and do not cut plants. They lack legs and have hornlike projections on the tail. Canada geese feeding on seedling corn will clip the top leaves and this damage may be confused with cutworm injury. Geese, however, often clip several plants in a row, eating only the top leaves and do not cut the plant at ground level.