Mary Hightower
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
The fall armyworms surging through Arkansas pastures and lawns apparently don’t understand the concept of a killing freeze.
Like the old saw, this army travels on its stomach and searches for tender plants to eat. The armyworms can often render a lush pasture nearly barren in a day.
“Right now, we’re seeing populations well above treatment thresholds in southern, southwestern and western Arkansas from Mena into Fort Smith and Van Buren,” said Kelly Loftin, extension entomologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “We’re seeing reports in north-central regions like Cleburne County over into Greene County.”