Sweet Clover Root Borer Moth
Common NameSweet Clover Root Borer Moth
Scientific NameAgriphila vulgivagella
FamilyCrambidae
SubfamilyCrambinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Primary Colorsbrown, black, tan
HabitatFields, meadows, grasslands, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeNorth America
Host Plantssweet clover (Melilotus spp.), clover (Trifolium spp.), various grasses
Flight PeriodJuly to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae bore into the roots of sweet clover and other host plants, overwintering as larvae before pupating in the spring.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic mottled brown and tan forewings with a somewhat elongated appearance, and its presence in areas with sweet clover during late summer and fall.
Description
A small, slender moth with cryptically patterned forewings, typically mottled with shades of brown, black, and tan, often featuring a pale streak or patch.
