Bigeyed bugs
Identification tip: Adults and nymphs are oval,
somewhat flattened, about 1/4 of an inch long, with a wide
head and prominent bulging eyes.
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Hyposoter exiguae wasp adult
Identification tip: The adult wasp is black with
lighter colored abdomen and legs, and 1/4 to 1/2 of an
inch long. The adult wasp lays its egg in the caterpillar.
Although Hyposoter exiguae parasitizes both beet
and yellowstriped armyworms, it is the most important parasite
of beet armyworm. |
Hyposoter larva
Identification tip: After hatching, the larva develops
within the caterpillar and the host caterpillar shrinks
and becomes hard and brittle; if you pull apart a parasitized
armyworm, a green larva will pop out.
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Minute pirate
bugs
Identification tip: Adults are small, 1/12 to 1/5 of
an inch long, oval, black or purplish with white markings,
and have a triangular head.
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 Polyhedrosis
virus
Identification tip: The bodies of virally infected caterpillars turn
into shapeless sacks of dark liquid and can often be spotted hanging from leaves.
A nuclear polyhedrosis virus often reduces populations of beet armyworm in
fall and winter.
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