Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)
Description:
- adult moths are about 3/4 inch long and 1 1/2 inches
- across outspread wings
- male forewings are gray and have irregular white spot near the tip
- female forewings usually are duller than those of the male
- hind wings of both sexes have a pinkish-white luster, bordered by a smoky-brown band
- newly hatched larva has a jet-black head and light body, turning darker when about 3 days old
- fully grown larva is 1 1/3 inches and varies from light-green to almost black
- front of head is marked with a prominent inverted Y, but this character is not always reliable identification
- larvae have three yellowish-white lines down the back from head to tail
- on each side next to each outer dorsal line is a wider dark stripe below which is an equally wide, wavy, yellow stripe, splotched with red
Damage:
- tiny larva begins feeding on its egg shell immediately after hatching, but
- soon attacks plants near the soil surface
- larvae grow rapidly and within 2 or 3 days begin devouring plants
- frequently do considerable damage to corn ears, similar to that caused by corn