FACTSHEETS FOR FARMERS
www.plantwise.orgCreated in Pakistan, June 2014
Cultural control of Cucurbit Armyworm
Recognize the problem
Armyworm is a leaf feeder of cucurbits and can cause large economic losses to
farmers, as the insect eats very quickly.
The moth lays eggs in clusters under the leaf. The larvae is generally green
with a black ring around the head. They are the size of a small finger when
fully grown. When they appear on the crop, they feed in large numbers on the
leaves, leaving behind only the veins.
Background
The armyworm larvae do not only feed on cucurbits. They also live on other
crops and weeds in the field. Therefore, the armyworm can be controlled by
removing weeds and other host plants like jantar, tobacco, okra, and berseem.
It is also possible to reduce the number of armyworms by destroying the egg
masses that are found on the underside of leaves.
Cultural control aims to reduce the number of pests in the field by removing
the affected plant parts and destroying them.
Cultural control is easy to apply and is more environmentally friendly than most
measures that involve chemicals.
Management
• To reduce the number of armyworms eggs and grubs in the field, visit
the field twice a week and complete the following:
◦ Remove the leaves that have egg masses on their underside. Put
them all in a paper bag and burn them outside the field.
◦ Remove as many visible caterpillars as possible. Put them all in a
paper bag and burn them outside the field.
• Remove alternate host plants like jantar, tobacco, okra, and berseem
from the field and burn them
Scientific name(s) > Spodoptera exigua
The recommendations in this factsheet are relevant to: Pakistan
Authors: Muhammad Saeed, Fayyaz Ahmad, Faryad Hussain, Mazhar Fareed Iqbal
Directorate General Agriculture (Ext. & A. R.)
tel: 0092-322-4884137 email: saeed8050@yahoo.com
Edited by Plantwise
Plantwise is a global initiative led by CABI
PK055En
Lose Less, Feed More
Cucurbit armyworm caterpillar.
(Photo by Russ Ottens, University
of Georgia, Bugwood)
Egg mass on the underside of a
leaf. (Photo by Ronald Smith,
Auburn University, Bugwood)
