Sometimes, large caterpillars will even drag part of a plant down into the soil with them so they can feed during the day while remaining hidden from predators. Larger cutworms usually feed nocturnally, remaining hidden beneath the soil during the day.
Cutworms will also damage other transplants, like peppers and eggplants, as well as plants such as peas, beans, okra and cucurbits that are usually grown from seed. When you till up the weeds to plant your garden, these partly-grown cutworms are left without anything to eat-until you set out your transplants. Some species overwinter as partly grown larvae. Other species begin growing on winter weeds in late winter/early spring. It is obvious why they are called cutworms, but how do these large caterpillars come to be in your nicely tilled garden in the first place, and why didn’t you see them when setting out your transplants? There are several species of cutworms but granulate cutworm and black cutworm are two of the most common. Losing a few hills of pinkeye peas to cutworms is not really that big a deal, but having them destroy four of the seven tomato plants you just set out, plants you grew from seed because you can’t get that variety locally, is an entirely different matter.
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