Southern hayworm
Common NameSouthern hayworm
Scientific NameNomophila antarcticalis
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyCrambinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternstriped
Primary Colorsolive green, brown, grey
HabitatOpen grassy areas, meadows, pastures, agricultural fields
Geographic RangeTemperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere (e.g., South America, Australia, New Zealand)
Host Plantsgrasses, clover, alfalfa, plantain
Flight PeriodMultiple generations, active during warmer months (e.g., October to May in Southern Hemisphere)
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae, known as hayworms or sod webworms, feed on the roots and lower stems of various grasses and herbaceous plants. Pupation occurs in a silken cocoon in the soil or leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive olive-brown forewings with two wavy darker transverse lines and a prominent discal spot. The long, slender body and triangular resting posture are also characteristic.
Description
A small to medium-sized moth with olive-green to brownish forewings, marked with two faint darker transverse lines and a few small dark spots, resting with wings held in a triangular shape.
