Cacao Armyworm
Common NameCacao Armyworm
Scientific NameSpodoptera litura
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, black
HabitatAgricultural fields, gardens, disturbed areas, tropical and subtropical environments
Geographic RangeAsia, Oceania, parts of Africa
Host Plantscacao, cotton, tobacco, tomato, potato, corn, soybean, taro
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions (multiple generations)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFemales lay egg masses, often covered with scales. Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on leaves and fruits, causing significant agricultural damage. Pupation occurs in the soil.
Identification TipsLook for the mottled brown and grey forewings, often with a pale oblique streak and a prominent dark reniform spot. The larvae are typically dark, smooth-skinned, with some dorsal markings.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with cryptically patterned forewings, typically mottled in shades of brown and grey, often with a distinct dark reniform spot and wavy transverse lines.
