Meadow moth: a dangerous plant pest in the Voronezh region. Activity has increased and measures need to be taken.

The meadow moth, which belongs to dangerous polyphagous pests, shows high activity during periods of mass reproduction. The caterpillars of this species are the most harmful stage. Successful development of the meadow moth requires warm weather and sufficient precipitation in the summer. The optimal temperature for their flight is 16-17°C, and the butterflies are active at night and dusk. The growth of the meadow moth population can lead to complete destruction of plants.

Females of this moth species are slightly larger than males, with a wingspan ranging from 18 to 26 mm. Their forewings are colored in grayish-brown tones with two yellowish-brown spots and a narrow yellow stripe along the outer edge, while the hindwings have a yellowish-gray color. The antennae of females are threadlike, while males have feathery antennae.

After mating, moths lay from 2 to 20 eggs on plant residues and crop leaves. Usually, there is a development of 1 to 3 generations of meadow moth per year.

The egg of the meadow moth is 0.8 to 1 mm in length, flat elongated-oval in shape, milky-white with a pearlescent sheen. The caterpillars are watery-green with dark heads, later becoming grayish-green and reaching lengths of up to 35 mm, with a longitudinal dark stripe on the back and sides. The pupa, located in a cocoon, can reach up to 25 mm in length, with a light-brown color.

In the Voronezh region, the meadow moth can reproduce in two generations as both a local and migrant insect. The main threats posed by this pest are to sugar beets, sunflowers, corn, vegetable crops, and others.

The fecundity of females may decrease at high air temperatures of 35-40°C. At an optimal temperature of up to 30°C, caterpillars hatch within 5-7 days and transform into pupae within 15-20 days.

Farm managers need to conduct regular field monitoring as the meadow moth is capable of rapid reproduction. The monitoring results should be reported to the local branches of the organization for assessing the phytosanitary condition.

When eggs of this pest are detected, protective measures should be planned. Such measures are taken when the economic threshold of harmfulness is reached. This threshold varies for different crops. For example, for sugar beets, the threshold is 2-5 caterpillars per m2, while for sunflowers and corn, it is 5-10 individuals per m2. To combat the caterpillars of this pest, it is necessary to use products registered in the Russian Federation territory in 2024 and listed in the "State Catalog of Pesticides and Agrochemicals." Treatment should be carried out on young caterpillars.