Yellow-Striped Armyworm

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We have a reader who recently found a type of worm in his living room, bathroom, and also in his daughter’s bedroom. He would like to know what they are and how can he get rid of them. He sent us a picture that gave us a little idea of how these worms looked. After looking at the picture and doing our own research, we have determined that first of all, it’s not a worm at all, it’s a caterpillar. The one that looks most like his picture is the Yellow-Striped Army worm.

And, of all of the thousands of types of caterpillars, it is quite likely a Yellow-Striped Army worm, which is confusingly named, as it isn’t a worm at all – it’s a caterpillar. They belong to the Spodoptera ornithogalli family. These caterpillars are found in the Eastern United States and in parts of the mid-west. They have also been found in some parts of southern Canada. Some species of this caterpillar have been found in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru.

These caterpillars feed on many garden plants and have been known to wipe out entire fields of soybean plants once they have infested the area. Many farmers have had quite a few problems with these caterpillars because they enjoy eating important crops. They also like to eat corn, alfalfa, cotton, wheat, and weeds like morning glories and jimsonweed. They are very active between August and November.

The Yellow-Striped Army worm grows up to be the Yellow-Striped Army moth with a 41mm in wing span and has some beautiful color to it. Its front wings are brown with blue spots and its hind wings are opalescent white.

Our reader was concerned about getting them out of his home and if they are of any danger to his daughter. These caterpillars can be easily removed by simply taking them outside and placing them into the grass or onto a large leafy plant. They are of no harm whatsoever to the home or to the people in it. They probably got into the house by getting stuck on someone’s clothing or through an open window or vent that leads to the outside. They will follow food and if not careful, our reader could lose a lot of indoor plants or fruits or vegetables that they have lying out in the kitchen.

In summary, our reader most likely has the Yellow-Striped Army worm in his home. They are easy to get rid of by simply taking them outside and putting them on a plant. They are not harmful to anyone in the home.

 

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Yellow-Striped Armyworm
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Yellow-Striped Armyworm
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We have a reader who recently found a type of worm in his living room, bathroom, and also in his daughter’s bedroom. He would like to know what they are and how can he get rid of them. He sent us a picture that gave us a little idea of how these worms looked. After looking at the picture and doing our own research, we have determined that first of all, it's not a worm at all, it's a caterpillar. The one that looks most like his picture is the Yellow-Striped Army worm.
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