Field Identification
A southern soybean and legume defoliator with a velvet-textured larva that feeds openly on leaflets, sometimes leaving only veins. Populations can explode in late summer beans when predators lag.
Bright green to dark larvae with sparse hairs giving a velvety look; narrow yellow stripes along the body; adults are dull brown moths with a silvery spot on each forewing.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Bt kurstaki or aizawai while larvae are small; spinosad if thresholds justify and beneficials are considered.
Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AgNPV) often crashes outbreaks naturally; preserve infected cadavers to spread inoculum.
Avoid ultra-late double-cropped beans touching prior infestations; maintain floral resources for parasitoids.
Limited—large acreages rely on biology; garden scale hand pick.
Scout undersides of leaflets weekly during pod fill; note migrating moths with light traps.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Anticarsia gemmatalis nucleopolyhedrovirus
- Braconid wasps
- Predatory bugs
Threat Map