Yellow Striped Armyworm Moth (Spodoptera ornithogalli)
The yellow striped armyworm moth is a noctuid moth, first described by French entomologist Achille Guenée in 1852.
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Scientific Classification
- Family: Noctuidae
- Genus: Spodoptera
- Scientific Name: Spodoptera ornithogalli
Description and Identification
Caterpillar
The larvae are pale gray or black, with two black triangular spots on each segment and a yellow stripe on each side. Their skin tends to be smooth, and their head capsule is brown with black markings.
Generally, these caterpillars go through six instars, however, seven instars have also been recorded.
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Pupa
They pupate underground in a cell lined with thin silk threads.
Adult Moth
Sexual Dimorphism: Present but not prominent.
Color and Appearance
Forewings: When the wings are open, they are brownish-gray, heavily patterned with light and dark markings, and a white band near the edge. When the wings are closed, the patterns remain visible.
Hindwings: When the wings are open, they are opaque-white, with a thin brown border at the edge. When the wings are closed, the white color is no longer visible.
Average wingspan: 32–44 mm
Flight pattern: Erratic
Season: April to November
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Egg
Eggs are pink-green, with 45-58 edges. They measure 0.46 to 0.52 mm in diameter and 0.38 to 0.40 mm in height. Females lay 200-500 eggs at a time under the leaves of the host plants.
Quick Facts
| Other Names | Cotton Cutworm |
| Distribution | In the Americas, including most of the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America |
| Habitat | Not recorded |
| Lifespan of Adults | 17 days |
| Host Plants | Alfalfa, asparagus, bean, beet, cabbage, clover, corn, cotton, cucumber, grape, grass, jimsonweed, morning glory, onion, pea, peach, peanut, pokeweed, sweet potato, tobacco, tomato, turnip, wheat, watermelon, and wild onion |
| Adult Diet | Does not feed |
Did You Know
- There have been reports of this moth appearing in Denmark via asparagus imports in 2020 and Japan. Still, these have been sporadic, and the species has not been considered to inhabit these countries yet.
- This moth is often confused with the African cotton leafworm, however, the latter is lighter and has more minor markings.
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Scientific Classification
- Family: Noctuidae
- Genus: Spodoptera
- Scientific Name: Spodoptera ornithogalli
