Protection of seedlings from cutworm damage

Abstract

Cutworms are the larvae (young stages) of a moth called Agrotis ipsilon. They live in the soil where they feed on a wide range of plant material during the night. Often, they chew through the stems of young seedlings at, or just below, the soil surface. When they are present in large numbers, they can cause a considerable amount of damage, and control measures are often necessary.