Other Common Names
Speckled Cutworm (larva)
Lacanobia Fruitworm (larva)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
originally
Hadena subjuncta (
Academy of Natural Sciences)
Identification
Adult: forewing purplish-gray with reddish-brown shading; AM and PM lines double, scalloped; black bar runs from outer end of claviform spot to PM line; basal dash black, curving toward orbicular spot at outer end; ST line with W shape near middle, containing two black streaks that extend toward PM line; subterminal area may be lighter than remainder of wing, but not conspicuously so
hindwing light yellowish-gray with prominent dark veins
Larva: early instars light green with white lateral stripe; later instars light brown with darker markings on dorsal surface
Range
coast to coast in southern Canada and northern United States, south in the west to California and Arizona
Habitat
gardens, fields; may be a pest in orchards
Season
adults fly from May to September
larvae present in June and again in August and September
Food
larvae feed on various plants, including apple, asparagus, blueberry, cabbage, cherry, corn, maple, pear, poplar, willow
Life Cycle
two generations per year; overwinters as a pupa in soil; adults emerge in May and June
Remarks
Larvae in orchards will remain in trees during the day, unlike other cutworms which return to the ground and only feed in trees at night. They eat entire leaves and may also excavate holes in fruit.
See Also
Grand Arches (
Spiramater grandis) is similar but has a conspicuous pale band in subterminal area (
compare images of both species)
Internet References
live adult images plus description, food plants, flight season (Lynn Scott, Ontario)
live adult image (Steve Walter, New York)
pinned adult image and technical info (California Dept. of Food and Agriculture)
pinned adult image (Bruce Walsh, Moths of Southeastern Arizona)
live larva image of early instar by Peter Landolt, USDA, and control method (pherotech.com)
live larva image of later instar, plus adult image (Agriculture Canada)
description of larva plus biology and control (Washington State U.)
US distribution map (Moths of North America, USGS)
common name reference [Lacanobia Fruitworm] plus the same larval image [by Peter Landolt] as above (rescue.com)
common name reference [Speckled Cutworm], food plants, flight season (Ohio State U.)
Contributed by
Robin McLeod on 22 February, 2006 - 9:22pm
Last updated 22 February, 2006 - 10:26pm
