Damage -Armyworms, apparently native to North America, vary greatly in abundance and destructiveness from year to year. They are most destructive to small grains when wet weather has caused lush growth in the fields. Armyworms eat succulent leaves first. As the foliage is consumed, they move to other parts of the plant. In headed small grains, the caterpillars may feed on awns and tender kernels, frequently cutting through the stem immediately below the head.
Farmers often notice snipped off heads and leaf feeding in combination.
Damage to small grains most commonly occurs in the eastern Coastal Plain of our state. Life History -In North Carolina, armyworms overwinter as partly grown larvae. Early in the spring they resume feeding on lush stands of grass and small grains. The larval stages hide during the day and feed at night. First generation adults appear in May or June and mate.