Caterpillar numbers vary across southern Florida, according to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline.
Beet armyworms are observed to be low to moderate in the last two weeks in tomato and pepper in central Florida. Melon worms are at moderate levels in squash fields, while there are low levels of loopers in tomatoes.
Worm populations have increased over the past week in Southwest Florida but are still low with mostly beet armyworms, hornworms, loopers and southern armyworms. A few melon worms and fall armyworms have also been reported. Low amounts of beet armyworm in pepper are also observed.
There are low but increasing beet and fall armyworm populations being reported in corn along the east coast. Beet armyworms are rated high and increasing in okra fields in Homestead, Florida.
