Cutworm lifecycles

Cutworm scouting should target periods when larvae are present and feeding.  Most cutworm species are difficult to identify as moths and the flight period is still difficult to quantify with respect to subsequent cutworm damage or yield losses in most field crops. 

The following generalized cutworm lifecycle chart can be accessed in the recently published "Cutworm Pests of Crops on the Canadian Prairies" (2017 Floate):



The field guide is also available as a free download and contains information for all economically important species of cutworms occurring in field crops grown in western Canada.