Mottled Brown Owlet
Common NameMottled Brown Owlet
Scientific NameAgrotis ipsilon
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Primary Colorsbrown, dark brown, grey, black
HabitatAgricultural fields, gardens, grasslands, open woodlands, various disturbed habitats
Geographic RangeCosmopolitan (worldwide in temperate and tropical regions)
Host Plantscorn, cotton, tobacco, cabbage, lettuce, beans, various grasses and weeds
Flight PeriodMultiple generations per year; spring to autumn in temperate regions, year-round in warmer climates
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae, known as black cutworms, are polyphagous and nocturnal, feeding on the stems of young plants at ground level. Pupation occurs in the soil. The species has multiple generations annually.
Identification TipsLook for the mottled brown forewings with a distinctive black dagger mark extending from the reniform spot towards the base, and uniformly pale brownish-grey hindwings with darker veins.
Description
A medium-sized moth with mottled brown forewings featuring complex dark patterns, including a prominent black dagger-like mark and distinct reniform and orbicular spots. The hindwings are a plainer, pale brownish-grey.
