As summer evenings cool down and fall makes its grand entrance, you can almost imagine hearing the rhythmic stomping of little army boots. What’s that sound, you ask? Well, it’s fall armyworm season, and these tiny, hungry troops are on the march.
Their mission? To devour your lawn and garden as if they’ve never seen a salad bar before.
These sneaky caterpillars can destroy your yard, leaving brown patches of grass that look like a lawn-sized crime scene. And if they’re still hungry (spoiler alert: they’re always hungry), they’ll gladly set their sights on your garden.
Just as their name suggests, armyworms move in, well, armies. They munch across your lawn like a well-organized, relentless swarm, then dig into the soil to pupate before restarting the whole cycle.
Think of them as the summer-to-fall transition team you didn’t ask for. But what’s an organic gardener to do when harmful pesticides are off the table? Don’t worry! You’ve got plenty of eco-friendly tricks up your sleeve to wage war on these caterpillar invaders.
Let’s explore some natural, highly effective tactics for handling an armyworm invasion.
Oh, and about the tiny army boots… I made that up. You can stop crawling around on the lawn looking for them now.
Enemy Number One – The Notorious Spodoptera
First, let’s properly identify our enemy: Spodoptera. “Armyworm” is a term used for several species of nocturnal moth larvae in the Spodoptera genus.
These ravenous little guys have cousins everywhere—tobacco cutworms, beet armyworms, and even Egyptian cotton armyworms. That’s right, these worms get around. They’re like the unruly relatives you never invited but show up to every family barbecue.
Each armyworm species can cause damage to your garden or yard, and they don’t discriminate. Whether it’s a small vegetable patch or commercial crops, they’ll chew through anything green and growing.
While they may only grow to about 1 ½” to 2” long, don’t let their size fool you—like all villains, they operate in numbers. Once the eggs hatch, the armyworms start their never-ending buffet, traveling and eating in groups like an all-you-can-eat caterpillar conga line.
After filling their bellies, they burrow underground to pupate, transforming into moths ready to lay eggs and start the whole process over.
Oh, did I mention one moth can lay over a thousand eggs and crank out 4-5 generations per season? That’s more caterpillars than you can count, and trust me, you don’t want to try.
How to Identify Armyworms (They Don’t Wear Camo, but Almost)
Wondering what armyworms look like up close? These critters come in colors that are straight out of a camo catalog—brown, green, and black.
They’re also sporting colored stripes that run the length of their body, which can be orange, yellow, brown, or green. These aren’t the fuzzy, cute caterpillars you might find inching along your picnic blanket. They mean business.
Look for a few key features:
Armyworm Season – Timing and Weather
Armyworm infestations typically hit in late summer to early fall, though some species hang around from March to October.
If you want to know which variety of these unwelcome guests you’re dealing with, check in with your local agriculture extension office.
These guys thrive in hot weather with occasional rain—sounds like a summer day in the U.S., doesn’t it? These warm, humid conditions make the perfect environment for armyworm eggs to hatch and, yes, wreak havoc.
7 Natural Methods to Get Rid of Armyworms
Now that you know your enemy, let’s talk battle tactics. Here are seven natural ways to send those armyworms packing.
1. Removal by Hand (Yep, It’s Gross but Effective)
Grab a bucket, fill it with soapy water, and prepare to play pest control. Manually removing armyworms may not be glamorous, but it works.
Simply pluck them off your plants and drop them into the soapy water where they will meet their soapy demise.
If you’ve got chickens, congratulations! You’ve got an audience for this little caterpillar circus. Armyworms make a great snack for your backyard flock, and in return, you’ll get some delicious, protein-packed eggs.
2. Invite Natural Predators to Dinner
Armyworms are like popcorn at the movies to many creatures, including birds, ladybugs, lacewings, and spiders.
Want to stop an armyworm infestation before it begins? Encourage these natural predators to move into your yard.
How do you roll out the welcome mat? Simple—plant a variety of flowers and herbs that attract beneficial insects. Calendula, nasturtiums, dill, and chamomile are great choices.
It’s like inviting a bouncer to your garden party. The more diverse your plant selection, the better balance your garden ecosystem will have.
3. Get a Few Backyard Chickens
If you haven’t joined the backyard chicken trend yet, now’s the perfect time. Chickens are the MVPs of pest control, happily munching on armyworms, ticks, and mosquitoes.
Plus, they’re endlessly entertaining with their “I caught it, now you can’t have it” antics. Chickens make great pest control specialists, and in return, they’ll provide you with eggs. What’s not to love?
4. Plant Trap Crops
Trap crops are like decoys in a heist movie—only instead of distracting security guards, they lure armyworms away from your prize plants. Corn is a great trap crop for certain armyworm species.
Plant it around your garden to entice the armyworms away. And hey, if you have a year without armyworms, you get to enjoy some homegrown corn. It’s a win-win.
5. Garlic Oil Spray – Not Just for Vampires
Garlic oil isn’t just for adding flavor to your pasta. You can whip up a batch of garlic oil spray to keep armyworms at bay.
Smash six cloves of garlic, mix with a quarter cup of olive oil, and let it sit for at least a week.
When it’s go-time, combine one tablespoon of garlic oil with two quarts of water and a couple of drops of dish soap. Spray your plants thoroughly to discourage armyworms from setting up shop.
Sure, your garden might smell like an Italian bistro, but your plants will thank you.
6. Protect Your Corn with… Ants?
It sounds a little weird, but ants are natural enemies of armyworms.
If you’re having trouble with armyworms nibbling on your corn, try rubbing a little cooking oil or shortening at the base of the stalks to attract ants. The ants will happily take care of the armyworms, leaving your corn in peace.
7. Pyrethrin Spray – Your Last Resort
If you’ve tried everything and you’re still overrun with armyworms, it might be time to call in the heavy artillery—pyrethrin spray.
This natural insecticide is made from chrysanthemums and is effective against armyworms. However, it’s still an insecticide, which means it will kill any insect it touches, including pollinators.
Use it sparingly and spray in the evening when armyworms are most active but bees are off-duty.
The Ultimate Question: Should I Do Anything at All?
There’s a growing school of thought among organic gardeners that sometimes the best option is to do nothing.
Nature has a funny way of balancing itself out, and what seems like a pest problem today could be resolved naturally by tomorrow.
Here are a few things to consider before launching a full-scale armyworm offensive:
In the end, it’s up to you to decide how much armyworm drama you’re willing to tolerate. Organic gardening isn’t always about fighting every battle.
Sometimes it’s about stepping back and letting nature do its thing. After all, armyworms may come and go, but your garden will (hopefully) thrive in the end.
