Identify insect/solution

So I've noticed that a lot of my brassicas leaves have holes in them and some are demolished. It looks to be some type of inch/silk worm? Can't anyone confirm what it is and what I can do for my up coming plants that will be growing in the next several weeks!?


I can't upload a picture yet but I will we soon as I can

 

Does anyone know this worm?

 

Dude...that's an army worm.
Sevin will kill them but not great for something that is actively grazed. Permethrin will kill the snot out of them too if you can get it or have it sprayed.
Finally, probably the best option for the common person without an applicators license would be Malathion as it should be available at walmart garden centers and has zero day graze restrictions. There are other products, Garden safe 3 in 1 oil will probably get them and is also generally carried at walmart I believe it's "Safer" brand.

Be careful with any of it, wear gloves and a mask.

Personally I prefer the Permethrin but I have an applicators license and carry it by the gallon.

***EDIT***
Just remembered permethrin is available through Walmart. It's a product called "Eight Insect Control" by Bonide. Comes in a white 32oz bottle. Turnips aren't listed specifically but are a cole crop which is listed. Turnips are listed on my permethrin label here at home which is a product called Perm Up.

 

Some orthene from a coop will work. Its dirt cheap too.

 

Yupp looks to be an armyworm. Don't know the population you have but they can wipe out an acre of corn in no time at all.

 

Thanks for the confirmation!

 

I'm not familiar with army worms, are they bad news?

We use malathion to spray for ants so I'm familiar with the stuff. But will it cause the deer to stop grazing it?

 

Does it have a white Y on it's head? If so, it's a fall armyworm. Google it if that helps you at all. Usually infestations aren't high enough to warrant an insecticide application, but that obviously isn't always the case.

 

Not the end of the world and they can be killed but they will do a lot of damage very quickly if the infestation is very large and it usually is. From the looks of the pic you posted I would say it warrants a pesticide application.

Deer may briefly stop grazing it but I seriously doubt it'll last long. Better a short term pause than having the crop wiped out...creating a very large pause in graze

Permethrin is my preferred pesticide but both it and Malathion list a 0-1 day PHI and graze period.

 

Good point, appreciate the info.

 

^^^
Sounds like someone knows what he's talking about. Think I'd follow his advice.

 

Okay I just read this thread and I was at my cabin yesterday. I pulled out a 29 inch high turnip as I was in aww at how nice it was. Sitting here looking at this thread got me curious so I looked at my photos and there is some holes in the leaves but not like these photos. I guess next time I go up I will have to investigate and look for bugs.

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There are always some bugs and insect damage, it generally doesn't amount to any serious concern but army worms aren't something that is a good habit to allow to run rampant.

 

Ya I am concerned because the farmer who leases the field in front of our property must not think he will get them. He has had corn planted 4 years in a row now. My neighbor says thats all he plants and we will probably never see him plant anything else. Two of my food plots border this corn field because we let him plant onto the 3 acres of the field we own.

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My plants started out the same, they were growing excellent and only had minor holes, which I wasn't to worried about. As soon as I let the fence down and let the deer in then the army worms began to really wear my brassica plants out.

 

He knows he can control them at the same time he sprays herbicide.
Stacked corn is an extremely poor farming practice in my opinion, especially to infinity.

 

Just curious, why? That's about all you will be able to get anymore anyways.

 

Just because he has corn on corn doesn't mean he will get any kind of armyworm or cutworm. Corn on corn you need to start worrying about rootworms; now there is the real yield killer.

 

I think you took it that I meant genetic stacked corn. I meant planting corn on corn on corn continuously without any rotations.