During winter, Army Cutworm larvae are what stage?

• A. Fully grown caterpillars
• B. Partially grown caterpillars
• C. Pupae
• D. Eggs

Answer: (B)

Army Cutworm larvae overwinter in a mid-development stage, meaning they are partially grown caterpillars. They hatch from eggs in late summer or early fall and then enter a diapause-like state in the soil to survive winter. Growth stops during the cold months, so they don’t reach full size until spring. When temperatures rise, they resume feeding, molt to larger instars, and eventually pupate to become moths.

They aren’t eggs because hatching has already occurred before winter, and they aren’t fully grown caterpillars because winter conditions pause development, leaving them in an intermediate stage. They aren’t pupae yet, since pupation happens after they have finished the spring feeding and molt to the final instar.