Hay Growers Encouraged To Watch for Western Yellow Striped Army Worm

Washington State University is asking both timothy and alfalfa growers to watch their fields for Western Yellow striped Army Worm.  WSU’s Tim Waters said the worm typically moves into Central Washington this time of year to feast on the variety of hays and even vegetables across the area.  Waters said the key this time of year is monitoring.

“Growers should be out looking for these things.  They are really more active at night, so it’s really good if they go out and scout these things for the day, basically part the canopy, and look down at the base of the canopy, you will see them feeding a little bit during the day, but you really will see them at night.”

When it comes to treatment options, Waters said it really depends on where the crop is.

“So, if they’re going to be harvesting the crop in a relatively short window of time, like in five to ten days usually, then we don’t recommend controls.  If they’re early in the regrowth period and they have a high infestation then we’d recommend they do something to control that population, so an insecticide application probably would be considered.”

Waters said before spraying, growers need to remember there are natural western yellow striped army worms.  He advises the worm could move to potato fields as summer wraps up.

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