Cutworms are general feeders that can cause a lot of damage to a wide variety of crops in your home garden, including broccoli, kale, and cauliflower.
Many species of cutworms from the night-flying moth family Noctuidae are found in home gardens across the United States. The larvae commonly feed on plant stems at or below ground, eventually cutting them down.
If you’ve been wondering exactly what cutworms are, or how or when to identify them, this guide is perfect for you. We’ve also included tips and tricks on how to prevent an infestation in the first place, as well as how to get rid of cutworms that might be infesting your yard at this very moment.
Adult moths lay eggs on plant debris from spring through fall with some species’ eggs emerging in spring and summer and others in fall. Those that hatch in the fall spend the winter in the ground or in a woodpile and come out to feed in the spring.
These pests cause the most damage early on in the gardening season when the cutworms emerge after overwintering and then feed on young seedlings.
Cutworms are caterpillars, but they are often mistaken for the grubs of beetles such as Japanese beetles.
If you’re growing a majestic baobab tree, you’ll want to keep it looking its best. Unfortunately, pesky cutworms can damage baobab trees by chewing on the leaves and stems. Getting rid of cutworms on baobab trees takes some work, but it’s doable without resorting to toxic chemicals. In this article, I’ll share some tips on identifying and preventing cutworm damage, as well as effective organic methods to eliminate these annoying pests from your baobab tree.
What are Cutworms?
Cutworms are the larvae of various species of night-flying moths. They get their name from their habit of wrapping around the stems of plants and chewing right through them, causing the plant to fall over or be “cut down.” During the day cutworms hide in the top layer of soil or among the roots of plants. At night they come out to feed on leaves, buds, stems, and even fruit.
Cutworm damage on baobab trees is noticeable as ragged holes in leaves, gnawed stems, dropped leaves or buds, or even gouges in the trunk. Keep an eye out for these signs of cutworms feeding on your baobab’s foliage. You may also see the plump, curled up caterpillars around the base of the tree or notice dark droppings on the ground nearby.
Organic Ways to Control Cutworms on Baobab Trees
It’s best to take care of a cutworm problem as soon as you notice it. Here are some effective organic methods to get rid of these pests on your prized baobab tree:
Handpick the Cutworms
One simple way to reduce their numbers is to manually pick off any cutworms you find on the baobab’s trunk branches or leaves. Check the tree carefully in the early morning or at night when the cutworms emerge to feed. Knock them into a bucket of soapy water to dispose of them.
Use Beneficial Insects
Encouraging predator insects like ground beetles parasitic wasps and birds in your yard helps naturally reduce cutworm populations. Avoid pesticides, diversify plantings, and provide habitat to attract these beneficial cutworm predators.
Apply Neem Oil
Spraying diluted neem oil on affected parts of the baobab repels and kills crawling pests like cutworms. It’s best to spray young worms directly for the best results. Apply neem oil once every 1-2 weeks until the infestation is under control.
Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth
This powdery natural substance composed of fossilized algae damages the exoskeleton of soft-bodied insects like cutworms. Apply a light coating of food-grade diatomaceous earth around the base of the baobab tree to reduce cutworm numbers. Reapply after rain or irrigation.
Use Physical Barriers
Prevent cutworms from climbing up the baobab’s trunk by encircling the base with cardboard or plastic barriers. Make sure they extend a few inches above and below ground. You can also wrap aluminum foil around the lower trunk which deters cutworms from crawling up the tree.
Employ Companion Plantings
Certain plants naturally repel or confuse cutworms due to their strong scents. Planting onions, garlic, marigolds, or herbs like tansy around the baobab tree can help divert cutworms away from your tree.
Check for Eggs
To prevent future cutworm attacks, inspect the soil and trunk crevices around the baobab in early spring for small cutworm eggs. Removing and destroying any egg masses you find reduces their numbers for next season.
Trap Cutworms
Make simple traps by laying down boards, wet cardboard, or inverted flower pots near the baobab tree at night. The cutworms will take shelter underneath these traps, allowing you to collect and destroy them in the morning.
Encourage Beneficial Nematodes
Some microscopic worms called nematodes parasitize cutworms, eventually killing them. Applying beneficial nematodes (available online or at garden stores) to the soil around the baobab tree can reduce cutworm populations.
Till the Soil
Tilling the ground around the baobab tree exposes cutworm larvae and pupae, bringing them to the surface where birds can feed on them. Do this in fall or spring to reduce their numbers for the next growing season.
Prevent Cutworm Damage
Stopping cutworms before they become a problem is ideal. Here are some tips to protect your baobab tree:
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Clear away grass, weeds, and plant debris from around the tree’s base to eliminate shelter for cutworms.
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Wrap tree trunks with plastic guards, aluminum foil, or abrasive sandpaper to prevent cutworms from climbing up.
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Water soil directly around the trunk to prevent it from cracking as the tree grows, reducing shelter for cutworm eggs.
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Apply beneficial nematodes or milky spore disease to the soil around the baobab as a biological control.
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Check new tree growth and soil regularly to spot cutworm damage early before it spreads.
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Cover fresh seedlings with mesh or floating row covers to exclude cutworm moths from laying eggs nearby.
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Maintain soil health with compost and mulch to encourage beneficial microorganisms that hinder cutworms.
Vigilance and persistence are key to protecting your prized baobab tree from annoying cutworm damage. Check for early signs of infestation like chewed leaves or stems. Then take prompt action to manually remove cutworms and use organic remedies like neem oil, diatomaceous earth, or beneficial insects to reduce their numbers. Combine these control methods with preventive measures like physical barriers and improving soil health for the best protection. Keeping your baobab tree’s environment clean and monitored for pests will help maintain its majestic beauty and healthy growth.
Damage Caused by Cutworms
Cutworms can attack a variety of plants since they are general feeders. Vegetables such as asparagus, beans, cabbage, and other crucifers, carrots, celery, corn, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes are among their favorite foods to consume.
A few species also feed on turfgrass. Cutworms feed by curling their bodies around the stem. This feeding results in the plant being cut just above the soil surface.
Damage occurs at night when caterpillars feed by clipping off seedling stems and young plants near or just below the soil surface. Often, an entire row of newly planted garden vegetables will be cut off during the night.
Different cutworm species will climb plants doing damage to foliage, buds, and shoots. Cutworms are also known to gouge potato tubers. Late-season cutworms will tunnel in fruit.
Cutworms, like their close cousins armyworms, will also frequently attack turf grass. The damage they inflict on grass — cutting off blades at the crown — is usually more dispersed than damage from armyworms. Cutworms favor golf courses where they cause ‘ballmark’ pockets of dead and missing turf both on fairways and putting greens.
How to Get Rid of Cutworms
Losing precious transplants once to cutworms is all most people require to implement preventive measures as part of an Integrated Pest Management plan.
There’s little more heart-breaking than coming out to the garden one morning to find the seedlings you started months ago indoors have been severed at the root.
Cutworms- How to prevent and control it
FAQ
What is the best treatment for cutworms?
How to naturally get rid of cutworms?
Will Dawn dish soap kill cutworms?
What is the best spray for cutworms?
How do you get rid of cutworms at home?
An inexpensive home remedy to repel cutter worms is to use leftover coffee grounds to sprinkle around your plants. Coffee grounds will not kill cutworms; however, the critters don’t like the stuff. 3. Beneficial Nematodes Another cutworm management tip is to utilize beneficial nematodes.
How do you stop cutworms from feeding on plants?
Put aluminum foil or cardboard collars around transplants creating a barrier that stops cutworm larvae from feeding on plants. Install the collars around your plants such that one edge is pushed several inches into the soil and the other edge extends a few inches above the ground to prevent most species of cutworms from getting to your plants.
How do you get rid of cutworm moths?
Destroy any infected plant matter by burning it or bagging it and throwing it in the trash. When spring arrives, rotate your crops and consider installing floating row covers to prevent cutworm moths from landing on vulnerable veggies and laying their eggs. 2. Handpick cutworms.
What happens if a cutworm eats a tree?
The number of cutworms found can vary a lot each year. When their numbers are high, there can be severe damage. Black, bronzed and army cutworms can cause serious injuries, attacking and cutting new plants nightly. The variegated cutworm can climb the stem of trees, shrubs, vines and garden plants and eat the leaves, buds and fruit.