Western Bean Cutworm Moth
Common NameWestern Bean Cutworm Moth
Scientific NameStriacosta albicosta
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, tan, dark brown, white
HabitatAgricultural fields (corn, dry beans), grasslands, prairies
Geographic RangeCentral and western North America (United States and southern Canada)
Host Plantscorn, dry beans, tomato, various field crops and weeds
Flight PeriodLate June to early September
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUnivoltine, with one generation per year. Eggs are laid on host plants, and larvae feed on developing kernels of corn or pods of beans before dropping to the soil to pupate over winter. Adults emerge in summer.
Identification TipsLook for the distinct white reniform spot on the forewing, combined with a dark, wedge-shaped streak. The overall mottled brown coloration helps it blend into its environment.
Description
A medium-sized, robust moth with mottled brown forewings, characterized by a prominent white kidney-shaped (reniform) spot and a dark, wedge-shaped streak near the trailing edge. The hindwings are typically paler, often whitish.
