![]() have no obvious hairs and are smooth to touch.have 3 prominent white or cream stripes running down the back and sides of their bodies - these are most obvious where they start on the thoracic segment ('collar') immediately behind the head and are particularly apparent in larvae that are longer than 10mm.grow from about 2mm to 40mm in length (mature caterpillars are 30mm to 40mm long).Larvae (caterpillars) of the 3 species are similar in appearance. It is not yet known if the Fall armyworm will establish in Victoria as it prefers tropical and subtropical climates. ![]() ![]() Fall army worm ( Spodoptera frugiperda).įall armyworm arrived in Queensland in February 2020 and has subsequently been found in the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales and, as of December 2020, in Victoria.Inland armyworm ( Persectania dyscrita).Southern armyworm ( Persectania ewingii).There are 3 common species of armyworm found in southern Australia: In the unusual event of extreme food depletion and crowding, they will 'march' out of crops and pastures in search of food, which gives them the name 'armyworm'. ![]() The change in feeding habit is caused by depletion of green leaf material or crowding. They are the only caterpillars that growers are likely to encounter in cereal crops, although occasionally native budworm will also attack grain when underlying weed hosts dry out.Īrmyworms mostly feed on leaves, but under certain circumstances will feed on the seed stem, resulting in head loss. Armyworms are caterpillar pests of grass pastures and cereal crops. ![]()
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