The beet armyworm has two to three generations per year in Colorado. This caterpillar is dark green with a narrow white stripe on each side of the body and a fine red line running through the stripe. The alfalfa caterpillar is distinguished from other Colorado crop caterpillars by short, dense, velvet-like hairs covering the head and body. Occasionally, this caterpillar will be found in other leguminous Crops but is primarily an alfalfa pest. Infestations are foretold by swarms of yellow butterflies, the adult stage.
Several generations occur per year in Colorado.
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