Cutworms

There are several species of cutworm which attack a variety of crops and pastures. Cutworm larvae are generally plump, greasy in appearance, and smooth bodied with most having uniform colouring ranging from pinkish brown to black. They grow up to 40-50 mm long and hide under the soil or litter by day. They can often be located by scratching the surface near damaged plants; when disturbed they curl-up and remain stiff as a defensive response. As the name implies, cutworms chew through plant parts, often felling the plant at ground level. They are most damaging in autumn when caterpillars transfer from summer and autumn weeds onto newly emerged seedlings. Moths vary in colour from dull brown to black with wingspans ranging from 30-50 mm.