Cutworm Prevention and Management

I wrote a post last weekend entitled Vine Weevil Larvae? featuring a rather unpleasant discovery on my plot. I had concerns that it was a vine weevil larvae, however I wasn't entirely convinced as I thought it was too big, not quite the right colour, and that it appeared to have legs as you can see below (vine weevil larvae apparently don't have legs).

However, thanks to Trevor over at UK Veg Gardeners, who has identified my rather unattractive and unwanted visitor as a cutworm, a rather confusing name since they are not worms but are actually larvae of night-flying moths. It appears that they hide under soil (I found them just under the surface of the soil) and venture out in the dark to eat. They tend to attack the first part of the plant they encounter, i.e. the tender stem of your precious seedlings, subsequently cutting it down. So, quite a clever name really :) The larvae have a fondness for asparagus, bean, cabbage and...read more.