I'm trying to create a (visual) guide to the moth genus
Spodoptera,
Armyworm Moths, since these adult moths and caterpillars can be difficult to identify correctly.
If this is eventually good enough, once completed, we might want to copy the info to the genus page. (Sept 2024)
ID diagrams:
Species Listing: Some species can have more than one form, that is usually related to the adult gender. I'm not sure about the cats, (yet) since they may look very different, depending on the age or instar.
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Spodoptera albula -
Gray-streaked Armywom Moth -
Range: Southern United States to South America. (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MO, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX)
ID Info: The thin black basal dash is a distinctive feature. It might have dark reniform spots and lacks a diffuse patch around reniform spots and lacks dark streak extending to outer margin.
Cat ID Info: The larvae feed on
Pigweed (
Amaranthus spp.) and
Ragweed (
Ambrosia spp.) and also have been found on
Pentas.
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Spodoptera androgea -
Androgea Armyworm Moth -
Range: (FL)
ID Info:
Cat ID Info: The larvae feed on
Amaranthus,
Theobroma cacao,
Xanthosoma and
Lettuce. (
Lactuca spp.)
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Spodoptera dolichos -
Sweetpotato Armyworm Moth -
Range: Southern United States to South America. (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, SC, TX)
ID Info: Look for the two dark-longitudinal stripes on the dorsum of the thorax.
Cat ID Info: Larvae are polyphagous and feed on a wide range of wild and cultivated plants.
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Spodoptera eridania -
Southern Armyworm Moth -
Range: Widespread Southeastern USA (AL, CO, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV)
ID Info: If they lack the dark streak extending to outer margin, compare features to
Spodoptera albula (above) and
Spodoptera frugiperda. (below)
Cat ID Info: The Known host plants include
Acalypha rhomboidea,
Verbesina occidentalis,
Alternanthera,
Ipomoea and
Tomato. (
Solanum lycopersicum)
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Spodoptera exigua -
Beet Armyworm Moth -
Range: Found throughout North America; more common in southern states.
ID Info: The AM & PM lines are doubled and usually visible, at least partially. The bright orbicular and reniform spots are prominent.
Cat ID Info: The known hosts include asparagus, beans and peas, sugar and table beets, celery, cole crops, lettuce, potato, tomato, cotton, cereals, oilseeds, tobacco, many flowers, and many weed species.
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Spodoptera frugiperda -
Fall Armyworm Moth -
Range: Widespread in the eastern range including eastern Canada, extending west across most of the southern USA to California.
ID Info: On the forewings, they do not have a short dash next to the AM lines, like on the very similar
Spodoptera latifascia. (below)
. . . . . male . . . . . . . . . . . . female . .
ID Info: Strong sexual dimorphism of the adults; brightly marked males, plain gray or light-brownish females. Also, females have a tuft of rust colored scales on the hind-dorsum of the thorax.
Cat ID Info: The larvae have been reported to feed on more than 80 species of plants but prefer grasses and they may be a pest of several types of crops.
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Spodoptera hipparis - Southwestern Armyworm Moth -
Range: Nevada and Arizona to New Mexico and south into Mexico.
ID Info: The AM & PM lines are doubled, scalloped and usually prominent. The spots are bold, including the claviform dash. The males have long pectines on the antennae.
. . . . . male . . . . . . . . . . . . female . . . .
Cat ID Info:
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Spodoptera latifascia -
Velvet Armyworm Moth -
Range: Southern United States to South America. (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TX)
ID Info: Has a short longitudinal dash at the base of the wings and a large patch of light-brown shading along the inner margin, widening to the PM lines, very similar to the males of
Spodoptera frugiperda. (above)
Cat ID Info: The larvae feed on leaves of low plants and garden crops such as tomato and eggplant.
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Spodoptera ornithogalli -
Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth -
Range: California, to Colorado and Florida, throughout all of eastern United states and southeastern Canada
ID Info:
Cat ID Info: The known hosts include 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.
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Spodoptera praefica -
Western Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth -
Range: British Columbia to California, east to Utah, north to Alberta
ID Info: Nearly identical to the more widespread species
Spodoptera ornithogalli. (above)
Cat ID Info: The larvae feed on leaves of crops such as alfalfa, potato, rice, sugarbeet, and sweet potato, plus various other herbaceous plants.
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Spodoptera pulchella -
Caribbean Armyworm Moth -
Range: Southern Florida
ID Info: The curved white line along the inner margin of the forewing is distinctive.
Cat ID Info: The known hosts include mint, spinach, and orchids.
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