Army worms on my chives

[Carolyn]

I keep a bunch of chives in the hoop house. They are somewhat self watering with a wicking system so I don't have to check on them super often and they pretty much mind their own business. I was shocked to see army worms munching on them. I thought nothing would bother chives but I was wrong! Has anyone else ever heard of or seen this? I wish I had taken a picture but I was so surprised. I picked them off and dropped them into a little Sevin. Eww. I put this in the wrong place I should have put it in Diseases and Pests.

 

[Chuck]

I keep a bunch of chives in the hoop house. They are somewhat self watering with a wicking system so I don't have to check on them super often and they pretty much mind their own business. I was shocked to see army worms munching on them. I thought nothing would bother chives but I was wrong! Has anyone else ever heard of or seen this? I wish I had taken a picture but I was so surprised. I picked them off and dropped them into a little Sevin. Eww.

Are you sure that they are army worms? Army worms will eat any and everything green including your lawn. Might not they be cabbage loopers instead. If they are about an inch long and green they are loopers and if brown army worms. Hopefully it is loopers. Bt will take care of both within hours and is totally organic unlike Sevin

 

[Carolyn]

They were not cabbage worms of any type. Army worms in several different stages. I need to get some BT though.

 

[Chuck]

They were not cabbage worms of any type. Army worms in several different stages. I need to get some BT though.

We have army worm invasions here about once every 5 years or so. They are like a plague and will eat an entire hay field or your garden overnight. Thank goodness they usually arrive about this time of year when the garden is about dead anyway