Fall Armyworms Feeding on Pods After Digging?

Rick Brandenburg

Entomology Extension Specialist

REMINDER:  There are a lot of fall armyworms in Eastern North Carolina. I have not seen them as a problem yet, but that could change. I just want to alert everyone that in the last few years we have seen them crawl to the top of inverted plants at digging and feed a little on the pods. We’ve also seen them crawling out of trailers.  This is a rare thing, but given the fact that we have seen a lot of fall armyworms this year, I want to remind everyone.  They are not going to damage the plant by feeding on the vines at this late date.  If you see a lot of them and fear the seldom seen scenario of them feeding on pods after digging, there are only two options I am aware of.  Blackhawk has a 3-day harvest restriction and Prevathon has a 1-day harvest restriction. Everything else is 14 days or longer.  To date, I have had no reports of them feeding on the pods of inverted plants.