Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Anarta trifolii
listed as
Hadula trifolii on
this site from FinlandExplanation of Names
TRIFOLII: probably a reference to the clover genus Trifolium, one of the larval food plants
Numbers
common to uncommon throughout its range
one of two species in this genus in eastern Canada; one of ten in western Canada
Identification
Adult: forewing yellowish-brown to grayish; lines double, indistinct; most conspicuous markings are dark shading in lower half of reniform spot, and large W shape near middle of whitish subterminal line [described by Covell as "1-3 thin sharp wedges pointing inward from ST line"]; orbicular spot almost circular; claviform spot cone-shaped (may be dark in some specimens, pale in others); hindwing dirty whitish with blackish outer margin except for whitish patch at anal angle
[adapted from description by Charles Covell]
Larva: body light green with dorsolateral line consisting of series of short dark streaks; ventrolateral line pinkish with dark spot in middle of each segment
Range
throughout North America, including the far north (Alaska to Northwest Territories); may be absent from some southeastern states (e.g. South Carolina) but is recorded from Florida
also occurs worldwide in temperate zones
Season
adults fly from May to October in the south, with presumably a much-restricted season in the far north (July and August?)
larvae present from June to September
Food
larvae feed on more than 30 species of woody and herbaceous plants, including clover, several garden vegetables, sow-thistle, several plants in the mustard family, pigweed, lambs-quarters, various other weeds, elm, poplar
Life Cycle
overwinters as a pupa in the soil; eggs laid singly on underside of leaves in late spring and summer; newly-hatched caterpillars feed on underside of lower leaves, gradually moving up plant as they mature, causing damage during late June through early July and again from mid August through September; mature caterpillars burrow into topsoil to pupate
Remarks
Recent observations on several European web sites suggest this species is becoming less common in the old world.
See Also
in the west, the most similar
Discestra species is probably
The Mutant (
D. mutata), which has a more oblong orbicular spot and its forewing is more brownish/less yellowish (
compare images of both species at CBIF)
in the east,
Apamea devastator (Glassy Cutworm) is similar but lacks the W shape in the subterminal line (
compare images of both species at CBIF); also see
Euxoa detersa (
Rubbed Dart)
Internet References
live adult image plus common name reference [The Nutmeg; adult] and abundance (Moths of Northamptonshire, UK)
live adult image by Tony Davison, plus other info (Ian Kimber, UK Moths)
live adult images of dark and light forms, plus food plants (Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa)
live adult image (Christine Corver, Butterflies and Moths of the Netherlands)
live adult image of light form (Buquet Christophe, France)
pinned adult image and other info (California Dept. Agriculture and Food)
biology and larval habits plus common name reference [Clover Cutworm - larva] (Canola Council of Canada)
description and biology plus list of foodplants (wikipedia.org)
common name reference [Clover Cutworm; larva] plus food plants and flight season (Ohio State U.)
presence in Florida; list (Index to the Species of Florida Lepidoptera)
distribution in Canada list of provinces and territories (U. of Alberta, using CBIF data)
