Cutworm

The fruit-piercing moth Serrodes partita similarly lives under litter beneath its food plant, the tree Pappea capensis.

The turnip moth (Agrotis segetum), A. ipsilon, A. exclamationis, and other members of this genus, are well-known noctuids whose larvae are very damaging.

[3] Cutworms are usually green, brown, grey, or yellow soft-bodied caterpillars, often with longitudinal stripes, up to 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in length.

[1] The same principle permits some domestic gardeners to kill the caterpillars without the problems associated with the use of pesticides; the first line of control can be to till the soil some weeks before planting to destroy any dormant larvae.

Also, at any time during the season, if the population has been reasonably well controlled, but there are signs of localised cutworm attack, the domestic gardener may be able to deal with the problem simply by digging the soil and wet foliage to about 2 inches deep, and killing the caterpillars manually.

Together with reducing manure and compost, relying instead on other forms of fertilizer, this can improve control by discouraging cutworm moths from laying their eggs, and depriving the larvae of food.

[6] Cutworms are hosts for numerous parasitoid wasps (including species of Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, Tachinidae and Eulophidae) and flies, with rates of parasitism sometimes as high as 80 percent.