Noctuidae
Guides
Aseptis
Aseptis is a genus of noctuid moths erected by James Halliday McDunnough in 1937. The genus contains approximately 15 recognized species, with some authors grouping them into informal species complexes based on morphological similarities. Species are primarily distributed in western North America. The genus has undergone taxonomic revision, with several former species now excluded.
Aseptis characta
Aseptis characta is a noctuid moth species widespread across western North America, ranging from British Columbia to southern California. Adults are active from April through August depending on elevation and latitude, with earlier emergence in drier habitats. The species inhabits arid environments including sagebrush steppe and juniper woodlands from sea level to 2,500 meters elevation.
Aseptis ethnica
Aseptis ethnica is a noctuid moth described by John Bernhardt Smith in 1899. It occurs in western North America from Arizona and California north to western Oregon, and extends into Baja California Norte, Mexico. Adults fly from early May through August. The species is associated with open pine-oak forests and mountain chaparral, with larvae feeding on Arctostaphylos species.
Aseptis fumeola
Aseptis fumeola is a noctuid moth described by George Hampson in 1908. It occurs in the southwestern United States, specifically in foothills and mountain habitats of Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. The species is associated with dry chaparral, parkland, and conifer forest environments. Adults are active in early summer, and larvae have been documented feeding on Arctostaphylos species.
Aseptis fumosa
Aseptis fumosa is a noctuid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1879. It is widespread across western North America, from western Canada through the western United States to California. The species occupies diverse habitats ranging from coastal chaparral to dry conifer forests and shrub steppe. Adults are active in spring and early summer, with larvae feeding on specific woody shrubs in the Rosaceae and Rhamnaceae families.
Aseptis harpi
Aseptis harpi is a species of moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Crabo and Mustelin in 2018. It belongs to the genus Aseptis, which comprises noctuid moths commonly known as false underwings. The species is part of the subfamily Acronictinae, a group of owlet moths. As a recently described species, published knowledge about its biology and distribution remains limited.
Aseptis murina
Aseptis murina is a noctuid moth described by Tomas Mustelin in 2000. The species name refers to its smooth, mouse-like appearance. It is restricted to southern California, where it occupies a range of habitats from coastal chaparral to oak forest and mountain-desert transition zones at elevations up to 2000 meters. Adults are active from early May through July.
Aseptis perfumosa
Aseptis perfumosa is a noctuid moth endemic to southern California, first described by George Hampson in 1918. It occupies diverse habitats from sea level to 2000 meters elevation, including coastal chaparral, canyons, urban areas, brush land, and open oak forest. The species is univoltine, with adults active from early April to early June at lower elevations and slightly later at higher elevations. Larvae feed on species of Arctostaphylos.
Aseptis pseudolichena
Aseptis pseudolichena is a noctuid moth endemic to southern California, first described in 2000. It occupies open pine-oak forest, foothill chaparral, and grassy scrub habitats across six counties. Adults are active from June to August and have been documented in only two iNaturalist observations, suggesting limited survey effort or naturally restricted abundance.
Aseptis susquesa
Aseptis susquesa is a noctuid moth described by John Bernhardt Smith in 1908. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, inhabiting rocky desert and mountain-desert transition zones. Adults fly in spring, and larvae feed on specific desert shrubs.
Autographa
Looper moths, Plusiine moths
Autographa is a genus of noctuid moths in the subfamily Plusiinae, commonly known as looper moths. The genus includes species with distinctive wing markings, including the Silver Y (A. gamma), a notable long-distance migrant in Europe. Autographa species have semilooper caterpillars that feed on diverse herbaceous plants, with some species considered agricultural pests.
Autographa ampla
Large Looper Moth, Raspberry Looper, Brown-patched Looper, Broken-banded Y
Autographa ampla, known as the large looper moth or broken-banded Y, is a Noctuidae moth species first described by Francis Walker in 1858. It has a wingspan of 38–42 mm and is found across much of North America, from Newfoundland to Alaska and south to California, Arizona, New Mexico, and North Carolina. Adults are active from June to August with one generation per year.
Autographa bimaculata
Two-spotted Looper Moth, Twin Gold Spot, Double-spotted Spangle
A medium-sized noctuid moth native to North America, recognized by its distinctive looping flight pattern and characteristic wing markings. Adults are active during summer months with a single annual generation. The species was first described by James Francis Stephens in 1830 and has been documented across a broad transcontinental range.
Autographa corusca
Caramel Looper
Autographa corusca is a noctuid moth endemic to the Pacific Northwest coastal forests. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 33 mm and are active in midsummer. Larvae feed on alder species (Alnus).
Autographa flagellum
Silver Whip Moth, Silver Whip
Autographa flagellum, commonly known as the Silver Whip, is a noctuid moth species first described by Francis Walker in 1858. It occurs across southern Canada and the northern United States, with a single annual generation. Adults are active during summer months, and larvae feed on specific host plants in the Asteraceae family.
Autographa labrosa
Autographa labrosa is a species of looper moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by Grote in 1875. It belongs to the subfamily Plusiinae, a group characterized by larvae that move with a looping motion due to reduced prolegs. The species is known from North America and has been assigned the Hodges number 8920. Like other members of the genus Autographa, it is likely nocturnal as an adult, though specific behavioral details remain poorly documented.
Autographa mappa
Wavy Chestnut Y Moth, Wavy Chestnut Y
Autographa mappa, commonly known as the Wavy Chestnut Y Moth, is a North American noctuid moth first described by Grote and Robinson in 1868. Adults have a wingspan of 35–40 mm and are active from June to August, with one generation per year. The species inhabits wooded regions across Canada and the northern United States.
Autographa metallica
Shaded Gold Spot
Autographa metallica, commonly known as the shaded gold spot, is a moth in the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1875. It occurs in western North America with a range extending from southern Alaska and coastal British Columbia south to central California, and eastward through the Rocky Mountains to central Colorado. Adults are active during mid-summer, with a wingspan of 38–40 mm.
Autographa pasiphaeia
Autographa pasiphaeia is a species of looper moth in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Plusiinae. It is found in North America. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 8915. Like other members of the genus Autographa, it is characterized by looping larval locomotion due to reduced proleg structure.
Autographa precationis
Common Looper Moth
Autographa precationis, the Common Looper Moth, is a Noctuid moth native to eastern and central North America. Adults are medium-sized with a wingspan of 30–38 mm and are active from April through October, producing three or more generations annually. The species has expanded its host range to include cultivated soybeans, though with lower feeding efficiency than the closely related soybean looper. Larvae are bright green with distinctive black false eyespots on the head and possess 21–23 crochets per proleg.
Autographa pseudogamma
Delicate Silver Y
A medium-sized North American noctuid moth in the Plusiinae subfamily, characterized by its distinctive wing pattern. Adults are active in mid-summer with a single generation per year. The species occupies a broad geographic range across northern and western North America.
Autographa rubidus
Rusty Looper
Autographa rubidus, commonly known as the Rusty Looper, is a noctuid moth species native to North America. The species ranges from Newfoundland west across southern Canada to southeastern British Columbia, extending south to Maine and Minnesota. As a member of the Plusiinae subfamily, it shares the characteristic looper caterpillar morphology with related species. The specific epithet "rubidus" refers to a reddish or rusty coloration, though detailed adult morphology remains poorly documented in available sources.
Autographa speciosa
Autographa speciosa is a noctuid moth in the subfamily Plusiinae, known from a restricted range in western North America. The species was described by Ottolengui in 1902. Adults have a wingspan of approximately 38 mm and are active in midsummer. The limited geographic distribution and specific habitat associations make this a regionally significant species for Pacific Northwest and California lepidopteran fauna.
Autoplusia
Autoplusia is a genus of owlet moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Plusiinae. The genus was established by James Halliday McDunnough in 1944. It contains seven described species distributed across the Americas. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Plusiini, which includes many species commonly known as looper moths due to their characteristic larval locomotion.
Autoplusia egena
Bean Looper, Bean Leafskeletonizer
Autoplusia egena, commonly known as the Bean Looper or Bean Leafskeletonizer, is a noctuid moth species described by Guenée in 1852. It is widely distributed across the Americas, ranging from California and the southeastern United States through the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America. The subspecies Autoplusia egena galapagensis is endemic to the Galápagos Islands. The larvae are polyphagous and feed on numerous plant families, with documented records from at least nine families including Fabaceae (soybean and common bean).
Autoplusia egenoides
Lesser Bean Looper
Autoplusia egenoides is a noctuid moth commonly known as the Lesser Bean Looper. It belongs to the subfamily Plusiinae, a group characterized by looping locomotion in their caterpillars. The species is found throughout North America and is associated with leguminous plants. It was described by Franclemont and Todd in 1917.
Autoplusia olivacea
Olive Bean Looper
Autoplusia olivacea is a looper moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Skinner in 1917. It is known from North America and is assigned Hodges number 8892. The common name "Olive Bean Looper" suggests an association with leguminous host plants, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Autoplusiina
Autoplusiina is a subtribe of moths within the family Noctuidae, tribe Plusiini. Members of this subtribe are characterized by distinctive wing patterns and morphological features that separate them from other plusiine groups. The subtribe includes genera such as Autoplusia, from which it takes its name. These moths are primarily nocturnal and are found in various regions globally.
Axenus arvalis
Axenus arvalis is the sole species in the monotypic genus Axenus, a noctuid moth described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1873. The species is endemic to the Pacific Northwest region of North America, with confirmed records from California and Oregon. Its narrow geographic range and monotypic status make it a distinctive element of the regional noctuid fauna.
Bagisara gulnare
Bagisara gulnare is a noctuid moth described by Strecker in 1880. It belongs to the subfamily Bagisarinae, a small group within the Noctuidae. The species is known from North America, though published natural history information is sparse. Only a handful of iNaturalist observations document this species, suggesting it is either genuinely rare or underreported.
Bagisara laverna
Bagisara laverna is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, originally described by Druce in 1889. It belongs to the subfamily Bagisarinae, a relatively small and understudied group within the Noctuidae. The species is documented in North America with 175 observations on iNaturalist, suggesting it is not rare but not extensively studied. Its biology and ecology remain poorly documented in scientific literature.
Bagisara oula
Bagisara oula is an owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by Harrison Gray Dyar in 1913. It is found in North America. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9173. Available sources provide minimal biological detail beyond its taxonomic placement and geographic distribution.
Bagisara repanda
Wavy-lined Mallow Moth, Wavy Lined Mallow Moth
Bagisara repanda, commonly known as the Wavy-lined Mallow Moth, is a small noctuid moth with a broad Neotropical and Nearctic distribution. Adults are active year-round in tropical regions, with peak activity in late summer to fall in the southern United States. The species was first described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1793 and remains relatively understudied despite its wide geographic range.
Bagisarinae
Bagisarinae is a monotypic subfamily of moths within the family Noctuidae, established by Crumb in 1956. The subfamily contains a single genus, Bagisara, which comprises approximately 20 described species distributed primarily in the New World. These moths are classified within the superfamily Noctuoidea and are characterized by distinctive morphological features that separate them from other noctuid subfamilies. The group has received limited specialized study, and many aspects of its biology remain poorly documented.
Balsa
Balsa is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae (Noctuoidea), described by Francis Walker in 1860. The genus belongs to the subfamily Noctuinae, one of the largest groups of owlet moths. Records indicate presence in the northeastern United States, particularly Vermont. The genus includes multiple species, though specific biological details for individual species remain poorly documented in available sources.
Balsa labecula
white-blotched balsa
Balsa labecula, commonly known as the white-blotched balsa, is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae. It was first described by Grote in 1880 under the basionym Nolaphana labecula. The species is found in North America, with records from Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States (Vermont).
Balsa tristrigella
Three-lined Balsa Moth
Balsa tristrigella, commonly known as the Three-lined Balsa Moth, is a small noctuid moth native to eastern North America. Adults are active from May through August and are characterized by their modest wingspan of 25–30 mm. The species was originally described by Francis Walker in 1866 under the name Garzana tristrigella before being transferred to the genus Balsa. The larval stage feeds specifically on hawthorns (Crataegus species), establishing a clear host-plant relationship with this genus of shrubs and small trees.
Banchus
Banchus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Fabricius in 1798. Species occur in Europe, North America, and Asia. The genus comprises at least eight described species, with Banchus flavescens being the most abundant hymenopteran parasitoid of the bertha armyworm in western Canada. Members are endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, particularly Noctuidae.
Bandelia
Bandelia is a genus of moths established by Lindsey in 1923, currently classified in the family Erebidae. The genus contains two described species: Bandelia angulata and Bandelia dimera. Its taxonomic placement has been revised multiple times, having previously been assigned to Phytometrinae within Erebidae or Acontiinae within Noctuidae. The genus is known from North America.
Baptarma
Baptarma is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Heliothinae. The genus was established by Smith in 1904 and contains at least one described species, Baptarma felicita. As a heliothine noctuid, it belongs to a diverse group of moths often associated with agricultural habitats.
Basilodes
Basilodes is a genus of owlet moths in the family Noctuidae, established by Guenée in 1852. The genus comprises approximately six described species distributed primarily in the Americas. The most widely recognized species is Basilodes pepita, commonly known as the gold moth. The genus is classified within the subfamily Stiriinae and tribe Stiriini.
Basilodes chrysopis
Gilded Seedcropper
Basilodes chrysopis is a moth in the family Noctuidae, commonly known as the Gilded Seedcropper. First described by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1881, this species is distributed across North America. It belongs to the subfamily Stiriinae within the owlet moth family. The species has been documented in 809 iNaturalist observations.
Basilodes pepita
Gold Moth
Basilodes pepita, commonly known as the gold moth, is a noctuid moth species described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It belongs to the subfamily Stiriinae, a group of owlet moths often associated with open habitats. The species is notable for its bright coloration and specific larval association with plants in the genus Verbesina. It has been documented across North America with over 1,000 citizen science observations.
Basilodes straminea
Basilodes straminea is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, described by Poole in 1995. It belongs to the subfamily Stiriinae, a group of owlet moths characterized by distinctive morphological features. The species is known from North America, though detailed biological information remains limited due to its rarity in collections and observations.
Behrensia bicolor
Behrensia bicolor is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae. It was described by James Halliday McDunnough in 1941. The species is known from North America and is assigned MONA/Hodges number 10179, a standardized numbering system for North American Lepidoptera.
Bellura
Bellura is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, established by Walker in 1865. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed in North America. Caterpillars of at least some species are aquatic or semi-aquatic, feeding on aquatic plants such as water lilies. The genus is notable among Noctuidae for this aquatic larval ecology, which is relatively uncommon in the family.
Bellura anoa
Arrowhead Diver Moth
Bellura anoa is a North American moth in the family Noctuidae. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with aquatic habitats during its larval stage. The species is poorly studied compared to its congener Bellura melanopyga, with limited published biological data available.
Bellura densa
Pickerelweed Borer Moth
Bellura densa, commonly known as the pickerelweed borer moth, is a noctuid moth species native to eastern and southeastern North America. The species is notable for its aquatic or semi-aquatic larval biology, with caterpillars that bore into and feed on wetland plants. Adults are medium-sized moths with a wingspan of 35–50 mm. The species is associated with freshwater wetland habitats and has been documented from Maryland to Florida and west to Indiana and Louisiana.
Bellura obliqua
Cattail Borer Moth, cattail borer
Bellura obliqua, commonly known as the cattail borer moth, is a species of cutworm moth in the family Noctuidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1865. It is found in North America, with distribution records from Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States (Vermont). The common name suggests larval association with cattails (Typha spp.), though specific biological details remain poorly documented in available sources.
Bellura vulnifica
Black-tailed Diver Moth, Black-tailed Diver
Bellura vulnifica, commonly known as the black-tailed diver moth, is a North American species in the family Noctuidae. The species is part of the aquatic moth genus Bellura, whose larvae are known to inhabit freshwater environments and feed on aquatic vegetation. Adults are nocturnal. The species is assigned Hodges number 9523.1.