Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Black Cutworm Fact Sheet from OMAFRA

An unseasonably early tornado season in the U.S. Midwest has blown a potentially big black cutworm problem to southern Ontario farms. 


Scientific Name
Agrotis ipsilon

Identification

  • Black cutworm larvae are greyish-black with a paler underside 
  • Mature larvae are about 5 cm (2 in.) long
  • The larvae are soft and fat, and they roll up when disturbed 
  • Early-season cutworms attack the seedling plants, usually cutting them below or at the soil surface 
  • A single larva may destroy several seedlings

Often Confused With
Wireworm damage
Damping-off

Period of Activity
Warm, clear, calm nights in early spring are ideal for moths to lay eggs. Feeding occurs from early May through to mid-June. Larval activity usually coincides with early season planting and emergence.  Damage is often sporadic and appears in localized areas within a field. Most species of cutworms feed at night, hiding during the day under loose stones or in the soil near the base of the plant. Plants are most vulnerable to cutworm losses shortly after transplanting.

Scouting Notes
While walking fields, keep an eye open for wilted plants or stems that have been severed at the soil level.  Dig around the damaged plant to look for the cause of the damage.  If a cutworm is uncovered, take note of its size.  Record the percentage of wilted or cut plants within the field.

Thresholds
For most vegetable crops, the control guideline is 5% damaged plants. Small larvae (less than 1 cm or 3/8 in.) are easier to control. Large larvaestop feeding as they prepare to pupate.  Control of these large larvae is usually unnecessary.

Check the OMAFRA fact sheet at: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/IPM/english/peppers/insects/black-cutwo...

Views: 460

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Secretary Naig Presents 2025 Ag Leader Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Iowa Agriculture

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig this week recognized three organizations and one business that have made exceptional contributions to the continued success of Iowa agriculture. The honorees received awards during the 13th Annual Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner held on March 31 in Ankeny. The event culminated the state’s weeklong Iowa Ag Week celebration and included remarks from Gov. Kim Reynolds and a keynote address from United States Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. The Secretary’s Ag Leader Awards for 2025 were presented for Leadership in Community to the Iowa Pork Producers Association for their Bacon Buddies program. Nationwide Agribusiness was recognized for Leadership in Community for their grain bin rescue initiatives. Pheasants Forever received an award for Leadership in Conservation for partnering with the Department on water quality initiatives. The Iowa Foundation for Agricultural Advancement was honored for their Leadership in Agriculture Education for supporting

Analytical chemist explores contaminant impacts on water and soil quality

 Dr. Alistair Brown joined the Department of Soil Science as Manitoba Analytical Solutions (MASS) Lab Director and Assistant Professor, on October 1, 2024. His interest in analytical chemistry was sparked during his undergraduate studies when a course on ecotoxicology shifted his career focus. Today, Alistair explores the fate and toxicity of environmental contaminants in soils and water, including UV filters, pesticides, and perfluorinated compounds. Tell us about yourself I’ve been with my wife Kendra for 23 years, and I have two sons, Asher and Jude, who are 16 and 13 respectively, and our dog Ollie who turns two tomorrow. I am a mass spectrometry method validation specialist. I got my BSc (Biochemistry) from the University of Winnipeg in 2013, and PhD (Chemistry) from the University of Manitoba in 2019. In my post-doc, I developed analytical methods for federal compliance under the Cannabis Act (2018), after which time I worked with Environment and Climate Change Canada studying

Liberals introduce plan to support ag

The Liberals have released their plan for the Canadian ag sector

Cdn. ag groups releasing federal election priorities

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture wants the environment risk assessment required for AgriInvest to be removed

New amendments to recreational access regulation enhance land management and accessibility in Alberta

Minister of Alberta Forestry and Parks, Todd Loewen, signed an Order in Council to amend the Recreational Access Regulation, which oversees recreational access to grazing leases in Alberta. This amendment introduces several significant changes aimed at improving the management and accessibility of these lands. One of the key updates is the addition of a purpose statement under section 1.1, which clarifies that the regulation is designed to benefit Albertans by recognizing the economic, social, and environmental importance of agricultural disposition land. This statement sets the tone for the revised regulation, emphasizing its broader impact on the community. In a move to modernize communication methods, the requirement for a “facsimile number” as a reasonable contact method has been removed from section 4(1). This change reflects the evolving nature of communication technology and aims to streamline contact processes. The dispute resolution process has also been updated. Now, the d

© 2025   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service