
Community identification
Armyworm Egg Mass
Spodoptera frugiperda
- Order & Family
- Lepidoptera: Noctuidae
- Size
- Masses are 5-15 mm across; individual eggs are 0.4 mm
Natural Habitat
Agricultural fields, lawns, and gardens across the Americas
Diet & Feeding
Larvae are generalist feeders on grasses, corn, and leafy crops
Behavior Patterns
Females lay eggs in clusters covered with protective hair-like scales; larvae are primarily nocturnal
Risks & Benefits
Major agricultural pest that can rapidly defoliate lawns and crops; no direct risk to humans