According to the South Florida Pest and Disease Hotline, worm pressure has been high in some parts of the EAA (Everglades Agricultural Area). Producers and scouts report finding loopers, bean leaf rollers and armyworms in beans. Loopers and armyworms are very common in lettuce plantings.
Across Southwest Florida, worm pressure has been low to moderate. Scouts are finding mostly southern armyworms with some loopers, fall and beet armyworms and few fruitworms. Melonworms have been common in cucumber and squash.
In the Manatee/Hillsborough area, worm pressure has subsided, but growers are still finding mostly low levels of hornworms along with southern and beet armyworms.
Reports from Homestead indicate that melonworms are present in some specialty cucurbits and squash.
On the East Coast, respondents report that worms are around, and pressure remains low to moderate depending on the location.