I. Introduction: There are many species of cutworms that are found on many different crops. Several species, known as the climbing cutworms, tend to climb grapevines and fruit trees in spring and feed on the buds and young foliage. The large larvae cause similar kinds of injury and the robust adult moths of each species are similar in appearance to each other. At least 10 species of climbing cutworms cause damage to fruit trees in the eastern U.S. and Canada, but the six species listed above are the most common and widely distributed. Climbing cutworms are sporadic pests, mainly in sites with sandy soils, where they may completely strip the buds and young shoots in the spring.

II. Hosts: Climbing cutworms can be found on grape, apple, peach, pear, and plum. Ash, boxelder, birch, boxelder, maple and other species are also fed upon.

III. Description: The larvae of climbing cutworms are large, smooth caterpillars, measuring 1.2 to 1.6 inches (30 to 40 mm) when fully grown (see larger image). The body has only a few hairs and the head capsule is usually brown or black; some have unusual markings on the head. Larvae of the different species vary in color with most species having a dull gray-brown background color with various species having stripes, spots, or marked with dark brown, black, yellow and white splotches. The dark brown pupae resemble those of leafrollers, but are much larger in size [i.e. >0.8 inch (20 mm)]. The adults are dark brown or grayish colored moths that look quite similar and have wingspans of about an inch (25 mm).

IV. Biology: The biology of the various climbing cutworms varies considerably but the peak flight periods and generations for some of the common species are listed above. The most common species have one or two generations per year and overwinter as half-grown larvae on the soil in leaf litter and orchard debris. A few other species overwinter as eggs or even as adults. The species which overwinter as larvae begin to become active as the weather warms, generally in mid-April. This group of moths derives its name from the larval habit of climbing trees to feed on buds and young foliage during the night, and then crawling back down to the ground to seek shelter under leaf litter, killed grass, or debris on the vineyard floor during the day. The larvae often curl up tightly when disturbed. Hundreds of larvae may feed on a single tree. The larvae mature by May and enter the soil to construct pupal chambers. In two-generation species, second generation feeding is minor.

Adult emergence varies among species as shown above, but the most common species are on the wing from June through September. Eggs are laid on leaves, twigs, bark or even grasses. Newly hatched larvae of the single generation species seek low vegetation on which to feed until fall when they move to the ground seeking overwintering sites. Species with multiple generations per year generally overwinter as eggs.