Armyworms (There are many species of armyworm. The following is a description that depicts some armyworm species.)

Armyworm larvae can grow up to 11/4 inches long. They have three lightly colored stripes running the length of their body. Black spots accompany the stripes on the second segment located behind the head.

Larvae pupate at fifth instar and the pupae are about 1/2 to 3/4 inch long. They are light brown with dark brown margins along their abdominal segments.

Forewings of adult armyworms are mottled gray or brown with a pale spot near the center of each wing. Their wingspan is 1/2 to 1 inch long, and the hind wings are white with darker veins and a fringelike border.

The armyworm infects many weeds, trees, grasses, legumes, truck crops and field crops and is attracted to wild hosts such as plantain, lambsquarters and redroot pigweed.