Common Snowgrass Owlet
Common NameCommon Snowgrass Owlet
Scientific NameApamea niveivenosa
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyHadeninae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, white
HabitatGrasslands, meadows, open woodlands, and areas with abundant host grasses.
Geographic RangeWestern North America, from British Columbia and Alberta south through the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains to California, and east to the Great Plains.
Host Plantsgrasses
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are cutworms, feeding on the roots and stems of various grasses. They typically overwinter as larvae or pupae in the soil.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive reddish-brown forewings with a prominent white streak (often described as a reniform spot) and orange shading, contrasting with plainer brown hindwings. The robust, furry body and feathery antennae are also characteristic.
Description
This is a medium-sized moth with reddish-brown forewings marked by a prominent white streak and orange shading, while the hindwings are plain brown. Its body is robust and covered in dense, reddish-brown fur.
