As a dedicated home gardener, I've met my first garden pest this season: the cutworm. These larvae from nocturnal moths are relentless eaters, slicing young stems at ground level. Digging near a wilted lettuce plant, I found one and crushed it on sight. Sadly, it had company—the next day, three more lettuces fell victim. I scoured the soil for these camouflaged gray worms, but the tally is 4-0 for the cutworms. Ten more plants remain, including a fresh row sown nearby. The war is on—share your proven defenses against this lettuce assassin!
Recently transplanted lettuce
Lettuce attacked by a cutworm larva
