Dancing the Cutworm Flamenco

     

It was nighttime and I was carefully following the beam of my headlamp through the yard. The newts get under foot, and I have to peer at each step before I take it. My light lit up a cluster of naked caterpillars. Odd for them to be out at night, and so many in a spot. I continued looking for newts but was noticing more of these camouflaged caterpillars. And more. They covered the grass and were devouring the foxglove foliage. There were hundreds of them!

   

I put out a notice asking people to look in their yards and gardens that night and report back. It appears these winter cutworms are hither and yon in multitudes. Look for holes in leaves and turds like peppercorns.

   

These gluttons eat until spring and survive freezing temperatures. The larva eat roots as well as leaves. During the day they hang out in the soil around plants, and in leaf litter.

    

Birds would eat them, but they appear at night. Ducks and chickens may root them out, but they may also root out the plants. Parasitic wasps help. The most effective treatment is to collect them at night. If you stomp on them, don’t wear shoes with deep lugs. I learned the hard way. Eeeewwww.

    

I find the best way to kill these vermin is to dust off the stilettos, put up a disco ball, and blast some Spanish music on the outdoor speaker. Then dance the cutworm flamenco and watch the entrails fly. Tickets for this performance are for sale. Or bring your own stilettos and join in for free. Family rates apply on weekends. Bring a napkin. It gets messy.

 

– Jay Rainey