How to identify
- Seedlings cut cleanly at soil level overnight
- Gray-brown caterpillars curled under soil or mulch by day
- Damage in the first weeks after transplant
Damage: Lost transplants; one worm can kill several plants in a row.
Control methods
- Cardboard or plastic collars around stems, pushed an inch into the soil.
- Plant slightly larger transplants; delay mulch until plants are established if cutworms are active.
- Hand-hunt in the soil at the base of wilted seedlings at dusk.
What products to use
We list product types and what to check on the label — not brand rankings, prices, or “we tested” claims. Always follow the label for your crop, and prefer the least disruptive option that works.
Bt (kurstaki) soil drench / bait (labeled uses)
When: Known cutworm history in the bed
Look for: Product labeled for cutworms on vegetables; follow soil-application directions