Armyworm
Guides
Dargida
wheat head armyworm moths
Dargida is a genus of noctuid moths containing approximately 50 described species distributed primarily in the Americas. The genus includes several species whose larvae are known as wheat head armyworms, significant agricultural pests of small grains. Adult moths are medium-sized with wingspans of 1¼ to 1½ inches, typically yellow-brown with longitudinal stripes on the forewings. The genus was established by Francis Walker in 1856 and has historically included species formerly placed in the synonymized genus Faronta.
Dargida rubripennis
Pink Streak, Pink Streak Moth
Dargida rubripennis, commonly known as the pink streak, is a moth species in the family Noctuidae. It was described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote and Coleman Townsend Robinson in 1870. The species is listed as threatened in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Adults have a wingspan of 32–37 mm. The larvae are known as wheat head armyworms and feed on developing wheat kernels, particularly in the soft dough stage.
Dargida tetera
Wheat Head Armyworm
Dargida tetera is a noctuid moth in the genus Dargida, commonly known as a wheat head armyworm. The species is part of a group of 13 similar-looking Dargida species whose larvae feed on wheat heads. It is found in North America and is considered a minor pest of wheat, particularly in the Texas High Plains region. The moth has a wingspan of approximately 1¼ to 1½ inches.
Mythimna
Armyworm moths
Mythimna is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, commonly known as armyworm moths. Several species are significant agricultural pests, with larvae that feed on cereal crops, corn, rice, and other grasses. The genus has a global distribution spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australasia. Notable species include M. unipuncta (true armyworm), M. separata (Oriental armyworm), and M. loreyi, all of which cause economic damage to major food crops. Adult moths have been documented as nocturnal pollinators of apple flowers and other crops.
Mythimna unipuncta
true armyworm moth, white-speck moth, common armyworm, rice armyworm
Mythimna unipuncta is a migratory noctuid moth found across North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Larvae feed on grasses and cereal crops, causing significant agricultural damage during outbreaks. Adults are nocturnal and nectivorous, feeding on flower nectar and ripe or decaying fruit. The species exhibits seasonal migration, traveling north in spring and south in fall to optimize mating conditions. Larvae display characteristic armyworm behavior, moving en masse between fields when food sources are depleted.
Noctuidae
owlet moths, cutworms, armyworms
Noctuidae is a large family of moths in the superfamily Noctuoidea, currently comprising approximately 1,089 genera and 11,772 species. The family is taxonomically unstable, having recently lost several subfamilies (Lymantriinae, Catocalinae, Calpinae) to the family Erebidae, making it now the second-largest family in Noctuoidea rather than the largest in Lepidoptera. Adults are predominantly nocturnal with cryptic brown, grey, or black coloration, though some tropical subfamilies exhibit bright coloration. Larvae are commonly known as cutworms or armyworms, with many species being significant agricultural pests.
Spodoptera
Armyworm Moths
Spodoptera is a genus of noctuid moths comprising approximately 30 species distributed across six continents. The larvae are commonly known as armyworms and include some of the most destructive agricultural pests worldwide. Several species, including the fall armyworm (S. frugiperda), beet armyworm (S. exigua), and cotton leafworm (S. littoralis), cause significant economic damage to crops. The genus is characterized by specific morphological traits that distinguish it from related noctuid genera.
Spodoptera albula
Gray-streaked Armyworm Moth, Unbarred Spodoptera Moth, Gray-streaked Armyworm
Spodoptera albula is a noctuid moth distributed from the southern United States through South America. The adult has a wingspan of 33–35 mm. Larvae are polyphagous but show a preference for Amaranthus species, and have been documented as a minor pest of soybean in Brazil. The species is one of several Spodoptera armyworms affecting agricultural crops in the Americas, though it remains less economically significant than congeners such as S. eridania or S. cosmioides.
Spodoptera androgea
androgea armyworm moth
Spodoptera androgea is a noctuid moth species found in North America and parts of South America. It belongs to the genus Spodoptera, commonly known as armyworms, which contains several economically significant agricultural pests. The species is one of many Spodoptera that can occur on soybean and other crops, though it is generally considered less economically important than congeners such as S. frugiperda (fall armyworm) or S. eridania (southern armyworm). The MONA or Hodges number for this species is 9671.1.
Spodoptera dolichos
Sweet Potato Armyworm Moth, Dolichos Armyworm Moth, Sweetpotato Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera dolichos is a noctuid moth species native to the Americas, ranging from the southern United States through Central America to Argentina. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1794. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 40 mm. Larvae are polyphagous, feeding on a wide variety of wild and cultivated plants.
Spodoptera eridania
Southern Armyworm Moth, Southern Armyworm
Spodoptera eridania is a highly polyphagous noctuid moth whose larvae are significant agricultural pests in tropical and subtropical regions of the Western Hemisphere. The species has emerged as one of the most important armyworm pests of soybean in Brazil and Argentina, particularly in cotton-growing regions, while remaining a sporadic pest in the southern United States. Larvae feed gregariously when young, skeletonizing leaves, and become solitary as they mature, often boring into fruit. The species has been introduced to West Africa (Nigeria and Cameroon).
Spodoptera exigua
Beet Armyworm, Small Mottled Willow Moth, Asparagus Fern Caterpillar
Spodoptera exigua, commonly known as the beet armyworm, is a highly polyphagous agricultural pest native to Asia that has been introduced worldwide. The species is a member of the family Noctuidae and is particularly destructive in vegetable crops, though it occasionally damages soybean in the southern United States. Larvae are characterized by variable green coloration with pinkish or yellowish undersides and a white lateral stripe. The species has gained attention in molecular research due to its gut microbiome interactions and baculovirus susceptibility, which have implications for biological control strategies.
Spodoptera hipparis
Spodoptera hipparis is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by Druce in 1889. It occurs in North America and is assigned the MONA/Hodges number 9674. Like other members of the genus Spodoptera, it is part of a group commonly referred to as armyworms, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain poorly documented compared to economically important congeners such as S. frugiperda (fall armyworm).
Spodoptera latifascia
velvet armyworm, lateral-lined armyworm, garden armyworm
Spodoptera latifascia is a noctuid moth native to Central America and the Antilles, extending into North America from Texas to Florida. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 42 mm and are active from March to October depending on location. The species was originally described by Walker in 1856 as Prodenia latifascia. Spodoptera cosmioides, a South American species formerly considered synonymous with S. latifascia, has been reinstated as a valid species.
Spodoptera ornithogalli
Yellow-striped Armyworm, Cotton Cutworm
Spodoptera ornithogalli is a noctuid moth widely distributed across the Americas, ranging from southern Canada through the United States, Mexico, Central America, and throughout much of South America. The species is primarily known as a polyphagous agricultural pest whose larvae feed on numerous crop plants. While occasionally damaging to soybean in the southeastern United States, it is generally considered a minor pest compared to other Spodoptera species. The larva is distinctive among armyworms for its relatively uniform black velvety appearance with contrasting bright yellow longitudinal stripes.
Spodoptera praefica
Western Yellow-striped Armyworm, Western Yellow-striped Armyworm Moth
Spodoptera praefica, the western yellow-striped armyworm, is a noctuid moth native to western North America. The species has two adult flight periods annually, occurring in early spring and late summer. Larvae are black with yellow stripes and feed on herbaceous plants including several agricultural crops. The species is considered a high risk for invasion into the European and Mediterranean region but is currently absent from that area.