Cutworms are capable of causing severe damage in vineyards during the early spring months when vines buds and tender shoots are at their most vulnerable. Damage to buds can cause severe crop loss in Washington vineyards, and this study supports the idea that the Cutworm species found on vineyard floors (on weeds, etc.) are a minor component of the fauna that actually damages grapevines. Vineyard sites with a large number of Cutworms on the vineyard floor did not necessarily sustain major bud damage. Conversely, sites with small numbers of Cutworms sometimes sustained major bud damage. This appeared to be related to ground cover presence/absence and/or type, but was also, in view of the rearing data, a consequence of most ground-dwelling species preferring to remain on the ground and not climb up grapevines.