White Cutworm Moth
Common NameWhite Cutworm Moth
Scientific NameEuxoa scandens
FamilyNoctuidae
SubfamilyNoctuinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsgray, tan, brown
HabitatAgricultural fields, gardens, open woodlands, sandy areas
Geographic RangeNorth America (widespread across Canada and northern United States)
Host Plantscorn, tobacco, vegetables, grasses, various herbaceous plants
Flight PeriodMay to September
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae, known as cutworms, feed on plant stems at or below ground level at night, hiding in the soil during the day. Pupation occurs in the soil, and the species typically overwinters as eggs or larvae.
Identification TipsCharacterized by its generally pale, sandy-gray forewings, which may have a pale reniform spot and a dark basal dash, though these markings can be indistinct. Distinguishing from other similar *Euxoa* species often requires examination of genitalia.
Description
A medium-sized, cryptically colored moth with pale grayish-tan forewings, often with faint darker speckling and indistinct markings, and a hairy body.
