There have been recent reports of fall armyworm damage, egg masses, and the emergence of a new generation in Gage and Lancaster counties in Nebraska. At our East Campus Turfgrass Research Center in Lincoln, there are a lot of egg masses in various areas. We also saw the hatching of new larvae of fall armyworm that happened on September 4, 2025.
Due to the increase in warm temperatures coming next week, there is a high importance in considering scouting for fall armyworm. When it comes to fall armyworm, there is no specific type of grass that it prefers. Here are pictures 1 and 2 of the eggs of the fall armyworm:
Another consideration is to find out if you have previously applied Acelepryn as a pre-emergence insecticide this year. If you have the coverage should be doable depending on the timing of the application by June/July, based on research done at Purdue.
More information can be found at this link from Gro Big Red by Extension Educator Entomologist Jody Green on management practices and infographics to help in the management of fall armyworm. There is also a Youtube video about managing armyworms from Backyard Farmer. We will keep an eye on the progress of fall armyworm at our East Campus Turfgrass Research Center.
If you do have a fall armyworm in your grass area, please report it to your nearest Nebraska Extension office and/or Turfgrass Extension Educator Amanda Folck at afolck3@unl.edu.
Reviewed by Kait Chapman and Jody Green, Nebraska Extension Educator Entomologists.
