Captures of fall armyworm moths in Western Kentucky have hit a record high. On Sept. 13 the integrated pest management (IPM) traps at the University of Kentucky (UK) Research and Education Center in Princeton caught a total of 675 moths. This surpassed the previous high of 549 collected Aug. 16 at the center. Fall armyworm moth captures remain low at the UK IPM traps located in Lexington.

"This will not be a distinct generation, as some of the worms from the previous large moth flight are still in fields," said Doug Johnson, PhD, extension entomologist with the UK College of Agriculture. "Worms from this flight will begin appearing in one to two weeks."

Each year, fall armyworm moths migrate to Kentucky from the South and begin laying eggs. Larvae hatch within three to five days. Fall armyworms are active beginning in mid-summer until the first killing frost.

The pest varies in color, though the grass-feeding type tends to be green. The fall armyworm has three yellow stripes down its back. The middle stripe is usually darker, and the ones on each side are wavy and yellow-red blotched. Fall armyworms have dark heads with a light-colored inverted "Y" mark on the front