cutworms on veggies

Benton, KY(Zone 7a)

We're discussing cutworms over in the tomato forum.Can anyone slide over there and help us out with how these critters work?

Orlando, FL(Zone 9b)

Cutworms curl around the base of the plant and chew through the stem. You can prevent them by putting a "collar" around the base of the plant. It needs to go down into the soil and up above the ground a little ways. They will crawl up above ground a little bit or dig in the ground some to get to the stem. Usually you only have to dig maybe 1/8" or 1/4" down to find the worm. Bt should be an effective control, as well as hand picking. My dad has been an advocate of collecting dead worms in a can, pulverizing them in a blender, and spraying the affected area with the dead bug guts. Supposedly the worms smell "death" and won't have anything to do with the area. Don't know if it's true, but it does seem to work when he's done it.

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