Army Worm.
Although there are four major species in Florida, the Fall Army Worm is considered the most prevalent. It is the caterpillar life stage of a moth, and is regarded as a pest that can wreak havoc on crops if left to multiply. Its name is derived from its feeding habits. Army Worms eat everything in an area until the food supply is exhausted, then the entire “army” moves to the next available food source.
Latin Name
Spodoptera frugiperda
Appearance
The larvae are a dull yellow to gray color with stripes running down the length of the body. The mature caterpillar is approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in length.
Habitat
The Army Worm’s diet comprises mainly of grasses and small grain crops. An infestation is hard to detect as the caterpillars migrate to new feeding areas in the cool of the night. Mature caterpillars can ruin an entire crop in only a few days.