Cutworms often move up the row, so if the loss is below ground and the plants did not emerge, it may look like a germination or equipment issue. Damage can appear as stand loss with gaps in the stand, wilted and dying plants or leaf area loss. The cutworm larvae cause damage to the crop. Cutworms are the larvae of moths the larvae are black, grey or brown and approximately 1.5” in length at maturity.Ĭutworms feed on cereals, peas and lentils, depending on the type of cutworm, feeding can be below the ground, at the ground surface or on the leaves of the plant. Many different types of cutworms can damage crops. Wireworms are the larvae of click beetles. Wireworms are yellowish-white to reddish in colour, have slender hard bodies and are about an inch long. Upon close inspection, wireworm damage looks like shredding rather than the cutting done by cutworms.

When the plant dies, gaps in rows and reduced stands are found. Wireworms feed early in the season below ground on seeds, shoots and roots causing death or weakening the plant. Wireworms tend to cause the most damage in cereal crops, though damage has been found in peas and lentils where forage grasses are in the rotation.

Download types of cutworms