Entomologist warn that Fall armyworm outbreaks are the greatest when rainfall follows a drought or dry period.

Last year conditions were perfect for an outbreak and the gluttonous pest devoured hay patches, pastures, and rangeland all across Kleberg County.

Although the moisture situation is much better this year, as compared to last year, the hot temperatures and dry conditions currently being experienced could result in an armyworm outbreak later this fall.

A cold front combined with rainfall following the recent hot and dry conditions will almost certainly result in armyworm activity.

With that in mind, a close eye should be kept on grass patches between now and the fall months to insure that the prolific pest does not get out of hand.

Female armyworm moths have the ability to lay 50 to 100 eggs on individual blades of grass and have been known to deposit over 2000 eggs.

Two to three days following a lay, the eggs hatch and the tiny worm begins marching across area grasslands. Since the destructive pest is so small at hatch, infestations often go unnoticed. However, as the larvae grow their food intake increases.

About two weeks after hatch the larvae have increased greatly in size and their appetite is enormous.

Damage is easily seen when worms reach this growth stage and are 1 to 1 ¼ inches in length. As the larval stage nears its end, feeding and damage becomes colossal. 80% to 85% of the worm’s total food intake occurs in the fourday period before the pest enters the pupal stage.

Once the armyworm completes feeding, it tunnels into the soil about 1 inch and pupates. In 7 to 14 days the armyworm moth emerges and the cycle repeats.

Close inspection for early detection is a must when battling the fall armyworm. Initiating a scouting program during the late summer into the fall is the first step in keeping fall armyworm damage at a minimum.

This will be the last County Agent’s Corner that I write. I will be retiring effective August 31, 2010, following 30 + years as an employee of Texas AgriLife Extension. I am extremely appreciative to the publisher, editor and staff of the Kingsville Record for allowing me to be a part of the weekend edition for the past 20 years.

I quickly learned that if 2 or 3 area residents were facing a insect pest or landscape problem, many more in our community were probably experiencing the same and that made weekly topic selection a very easy task.

It is my hope that readers have enjoyed reading the column as much as I have enjoyed writing it each week. Thanks.