Beet armyworm
es for the growth of the crop. With a substantial population of caterpillars, the damage can spread to the stems, and in the worst cases to the fruit. [...] black. The colour and pattern of the caterpillars is highly variable and depends partly on the host plant, the stage of development and the climate. A full-grown [...] occurs in the crop, it usually takes place on the surface of the ground in a loosely spun cocoon, consisting of soil particles glued together with a sticky