Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
formerly
Pseudaletia unipuncta (see article on
taxonomic changes at CBIF)
Explanation of Names
the common name comes from the caterpillars, which eat until there is nothing left, then "march" by the thousands to a new food source (
Dale Clark, dallasbutterflies.com)
the scientific name is Latin for "one-pointed", presumably referring to the white dot on the upper surface of each forewing.
Numbers
one of 5 species in this genus in North America listed at
All-Leps
common to abundant
Identification
Adult: forewing tan, often tinged with orange and lightly speckled with black; white along veins; PM line a series of small widely-spaced black dots; discal spot white; black-shaded line slants inward from apex; hindwing grayish-brown with tan fringe
[adapted from description by Charles Covell]
Larva: head pale brown with green tinge and mottled with dark brown; body smooth, almost hairless, variably yellowish-green to brown to dark gray, with several dark stripes interspersed with pale lines along top and sides
[adapted from description by Vermont Dept. of Agriculture]
Range
throughout North America except the arctic (Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut)
also occurs in many other areas of the world
Habitat
fields, gardens, meadows, waste places; adults are nocturnal and come to light
Season
adults fly from March to November in the south; April to October in the north
Food
larvae are generalist feeders on many species of plants: alfalfa, corn and other grains, grasses, vegetables, many weeds and other wild plants, leaves of fruit trees and ornamentals
Life Cycle
two or three generations per year; overwinters as either a pupa or partially-grown larva which pupates in the spring
Remarks
The two North American species formerly placed in
Pseudaletia were included in
Mythimna by Lafontaine and Troubridge in 2003 (
see CBIF article).
Internet References
live adult images plus description, flight season, foodplants (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
pinned adult and live larva images plus biology, description, and other info (Oklahoma State U.)
dorsal and ventral views of pinned adults plus foodplants and other info (Dale Clark, Texas)
live adult images (John Himmelman, Connecticut)
live adult images (Larry Line, Maryland)
Taxonomic Notes on North American Noctuidae describing recent classification changes (Donald Lafontaine and James Troubridge, CBIF)
Information and photos of larvae and adults plus common name reference [True Armyworm], description of damage, and control methods (Vermont Dept. of Agriculture, Food & Markets)
distribution in Canada listing all ten provinces (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
