–by Jeff Whitworth — Field Crop Entomologist
Garden webworms (fig. 2) have just about finished feeding on soybeans and/or alfalfa (where they have been much less noticeable). They will pupate in the soil for the next 4-7 days then the moths will emerge to start depositing eggs in acceptable host plants. From a crop perspective this time of year, hopefully they will have little impact as the soybeans have developed far enough that these worms won’t defoliate enough to affect yield. But the really late-planted soybeans or those that may be moisture stressed may still have some concern, so monitoring should include these defoliators starting soon.
Figure 2: Garden webworm mature larva (picture by Steve Freach)