Black cutworm is a pest that is hard to notice until it starts doing damage to your crops, but a local extension educator has tips to prevent it. 

Reagan Tibbs, Commercial Ag Educator for the University of Illinois Extension serving Logan, Menard, and Sangamon Counties, explains that this time of year is when black cutworm starts to appear. 

Black cutworms do not behave in the same way that other insects might. Tibbs indicates that during the day, they will often burrow underground, making them hard to notice while farmers are in the fields. 

The most common sign of black cutworm in your fields is stalks that are completely cut at the soil level. If the plants are on the taller side, sometimes that damage can even occur underground. 

The good news is, according to Tibbs, black cutworm does not often affect an entire field. This means they can be managed more easily with localized insecticide treatment. 

When dealing with pests, prevention is almost always easier than treatment. Get more information on pests and more agricultural resources by visiting extension.illinois.edu/lms.