Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

DRAFT: Armyworms and Cutworms

John and Jane and I were busy sorting out some caterpillars (see here) which got me working on the cutworms. I'm starting this just help sort some of those cutworms out.. and to keep this in a form I can work on over time / edit.

I'm using the Golden Guide to Butterflies and Moths, 2002 (1) and the Mid-Atlantic Guide to the Insects Pests and Beneficials of Corn, Soybean and Small Grains by Virginia IPM. Other sites referenced are linked below.

Black Cutworm / Greasy Cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon) is found throughout the US & Southern Canada


Spotted Cutworm (Xestia dolosa) These looks a little like the yellow-striped except for more elongated triangles on the sides, it's much like the large yellow underwing and lesser yellow underwing from above, I'd guess.. from the side I think the lesser yellow has a more distinct yellow stripe. Some candidates



W-Marked Cutworm (Spaelotis clandestina) Throughout the US except the very southern regions, also throughout southern Canada and southern Alaska. Possible candidates


Pale-sided Cutworm (Agrotis malefida) found in the southern US.

Pale Western Cutworm (Agrotis orthogonia) found in the western US, but not along the coastal states.

Glassy Cutworm (Apamea devastator) - range is Canada to NJ and west to the Pacific.

In Alberta
1. Apamea devastator (glassy cutworm)
2. Apamea inficita
3. Apamea amputatrix (yellow-headed cutworm)
4. Apamea cogitata


Striped Garden Cutworm (Trichordestra legitima) found throughout most of the US


Pale-Banded Dart (Agnorisma badinodis) found throughout the US except the very southern regions, also throughout southern Canada and southern Alaska. Possible contenders


Dark-sided Cutworm (Euxoa messoria)

Striped Cutworm (Euxoa tessellata)

Bronzed Cutworm (Nephelodes minians)


White Cutworm (Euxoa scandens)

Dingy Cutworm (Feltia jaculifera)
More images UMN, illinois.edu & gov.mb

Redbacked Cutworm (Euxoa ochrogaster)

Sandhill Cutworm (Euxoa detersa)
more images iastate.edu

Bristly Cutworm (Lacinipolia renigera)

Variegated Cutworm (Peridroma saucia)


Yellow-striped Armyworm / Cotton Cutworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli) Watch for the black triangular markings on each segment with yellow stripe just below and dark spot above the first abdominal segment.


Western Yellow-striped Armyworm (Spodoptera praefica) - West of the Rockies


Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is found across the US except the Northwest


Armyworm (Mythimna unipuncta) found across the US and in Southwestern Canada.
Interestingly he Golden Guide shows this caterpillar to have a blue stripe just above the spiracles instead of brown as shown in the Oklahoma image. Nebraska image seen here.


Beet Armyworm (Spodoptera exigua) is found across the US, except for the Northeast
The black spot above the second true leg is one of its field markings.

Wheat-head Armyworm (Dargida diffusa) is found across the US, except in the Southeast. (I'll bet we have some images of these) Also see forestry images. Final stage slightly resembles this one... not sure on the mottling.. maybe the second one is closer... and that could have been wheat.. as there was some hay that was growing down there.


Army Cutworm (Euxoa auxiliaris) Most of the US except for about the eastern 1/3.
Other images found OKstate, UNL (also shows pale western), and forestryimages.org

White Pine Cutworm (Xestia badicollis)

Western Bean Cutworm (Striacosta albicosta)

Corn Earworm (Helicoverpa zea)


Simplex Cutworm (Egira simplex)

Snowy Dart (Euagrotis illapsa)

Flame-shouldered Dart (Ochropleura implecta)

Zebra Caterpillar

Cotton Leafworm

Green Cloverworm

Other Similar Looking caterpillars

Clouded Locust Underwing (Euparthenos nubilis) found in the northeastern 1/4 of the US & southeastern Canada
Possible candidates based on the drawing in the Golden Guide are

Large Yellow Underwing (Noctua pronuba) Might be confused with Yellow-striped Armyworm. Look for the lack of a large black spot on the first abdominal segment.


Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes)

Clouded Locust Underwing
Very nice work on this article Lynette! The picture in Wagner p. 356 looks a little different than what's posted here.

 
Thanks Tom
that's a good link. I added it to the name and moved the image up with the possible spotted cutworms.