Noctuidae
Guides
Benjaminiola
Benjaminiola is a monotypic genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, established by Strand in 1928. The genus contains a single species, Benjaminiola colorada. As a noctuid moth, it belongs to one of the largest families of Lepidoptera, commonly known as owlet moths.
Brachionycha borealis
Boreal Fan Moth
Brachionycha borealis is a noctuid moth described by Smith in 1899. It occurs across northern North America from Maine and Pennsylvania west to central Alberta. The species has a single annual generation and is active in early spring, with adults flying from April to May. Larvae feed on oak and blueberry species.
Brachylomia
Minor Shoulder-knot (B. viminalis)
Brachylomia is a genus of small noctuid moths in the tribe Xylenini, containing approximately 17 described species. The genus occurs across the Holarctic region, with species distributed in North America, Europe, and Asia. Brachylomia viminalis, the Minor Shoulder-knot, is the best-known species and serves as the primary reference for understanding the genus. Most species are associated with damp habitats and willow-dominated vegetation.
Brachylomia populi
Brachylomia populi is a noctuid moth species first described by Strecker in 1898. It inhabits the inland mountain regions of western North America, with larvae that feed specifically on cottonwood, aspen (Populus), and oak (Quercus) leaves. The species has a wingspan of approximately 30 mm and is known from 133 iNaturalist observations.
Brachylomia sierra
Brachylomia sierra is a moth species in the family Noctuidae, described in 2007 by James T. Troubridge and J. Donald Lafontaine. It is native to North America and has been assigned the MONA/Hodges number 9997.1. The species belongs to the genus Brachylomia, a group of noctuid moths. Very little specific ecological or biological information has been published for this recently described species.
Bryolymnia
Bryolymnia is a genus of noctuid moths erected by George Hampson in 1908. It is classified within the subfamily Bryophilinae and contains approximately 23 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. The genus name derives from Greek roots suggesting a connection to moss (bryo-) and a type of nymph or maiden (lymnia), though the etymological significance remains unclear. Species within this genus exhibit considerable diversity in wing pattern and coloration.
Bryolymnia biformata
Bryolymnia biformata is a small noctuid moth described in 2010 from the sky island mountain ranges of southeastern Arizona. The species is distinguished by two distinct color forms of adults, which inspired its Latin name. It has been documented only from the Huachuca, Patagonia, and Santa Rita Mountains.
Bryolymnia ensina
Bryolymnia ensina is a small noctuid moth restricted to montane coniferous forests in the southwestern United States and Mexico. It was first described from Arizona in 1907 and remains one of the more narrowly distributed species in its genus. Adults fly during a brief mid-summer window, and the species is rarely encountered.
Bryolymnia marti
Bryolymnia marti is a small noctuid moth described by Richard Holland in 2010. It is known from a restricted range in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Adults are active during early summer and have been collected exclusively in conifer forest habitats. The species is one of several recently described members of the genus Bryolymnia.
Bryolymnia semifascia
half-banded bryolymnia, half-banded bryolymnia moth
Bryolymnia semifascia, known as the half-banded bryolymnia, is a small noctuid moth native to the southwestern United States. First described by John Bernhardt Smith in 1900, this species inhabits conifer forests at moderate elevations. Adults are active during summer months and are characterized by a distinctive wing pattern featuring a partial band.
Bryolymnia viridata
Bryolymnia viridata is a small noctuid moth endemic to western California, ranging from Sonoma County to San Diego County. First described by Leon F. Harvey in 1876, it has a wingspan of approximately 27 mm. Adults are active from late May through mid-October. The species is placed in the tribe Elaphriini within the subfamily Noctuinae.
Callopistria cordata
silver-spotted fern moth
Callopistria cordata, commonly known as the silver-spotted fern moth, is a noctuid moth species described by Ljungh in 1825. It belongs to the subfamily Eriopinae within the owlet moth family Noctuidae. The species is documented from North America, with specific occurrence records from Manitoba, Canada and Vermont, United States. It is a relatively well-observed species with over 2,600 iNaturalist records.
Calophasia
Calophasia is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, first described by Stephens in 1829. The genus contains approximately eight described species distributed across Europe, North Africa, and parts of North America. The most well-known species is Calophasia lunula (toadflax brocade), which has been introduced to North America as a biological control agent for invasive toadflax plants. Species in this genus are generally associated with open, dry habitats.
Calophasia lunula
Toadflax Brocade Moth, Toadflax Moth
Calophasia lunula is a noctuid moth native to the Palearctic region, introduced to North America as a biological control agent for invasive toadflax species. The moth's larvae are specialized feeders on yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) and Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria genistifolia ssp. dalmatica), causing significant defoliation that reduces seed production. Adults feed on nectar without causing plant damage. The species has established populations in parts of Canada and the United States following intentional introductions beginning in the early 1960s.
Campoletis sonorensis
Campoletis sonorensis is a parasitoid ichneumonid wasp distributed across much of the Americas, including the United States, Brazil, and Chile. It is a generalist endoparasitoid of lepidopteran larvae, with documented hosts including Spodoptera frugiperda, Spodoptera exigua, Helicoverpa species, Chrysodeixis includens, and Heliothis virescens. The species employs sophisticated immune evasion strategies involving a mutualistic polydnavirus (Campoletis sonorensis ichnovirus, CsIV) and ovarian proteins that suppress host hemocyte function and prevent encapsulation. It has been extensively studied as a model system for host-parasitoid interactions, host selection behavior, and biological control potential.
Caradrina
rustics, mottled willows
Caradrina is a genus of noctuid moths erected by Ferdinand Ochsenheimer in 1816, currently comprising approximately 189 described species divided into eight subgenera. The genus includes species commonly known as rustics or mottled willows, with some subgenera (notably Paradrina and Platyperigea) treated as separate genera by certain authorities. Species within this genus exhibit bivoltine life cycles in temperate regions and show varying degrees of migratory behavior.
Caradrina atrostriga
Caradrina atrostriga is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It was described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1912. The species is known from North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 9659. It is one of approximately 13 species in the genus Caradrina recorded in North America.
Caradrina beta
cutworm, dart moth
Caradrina beta is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae, first described by William Barnes and Foster Hendrickson Benjamin in 1926. It is found in North America. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9655.1. As a member of the genus Caradrina, it belongs to a group of moths commonly known as mottled rustic moths.
Caradrina clavipalpis
Pale Mottled Willow
Caradrina clavipalpis, the pale mottled willow, is a small noctuid moth native to the Palearctic region and introduced to North America since 1993. Adults are attracted to light and sugar, and feed at flowers. The species has two generations per year in temperate regions, with adults flying from April to October depending on location. Larvae feed on cereal grains and plantains, and pupate underground in robust cocoons.
Caradrina mona
cutworm moth, dart moth
Caradrina mona is a species of noctuid moth first described by William Barnes and James Halliday McDunnough in 1912. It belongs to the cutworm or dart moth group within the family Noctuidae. The species is found in North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 9658.
Caradrina multifera
Speckled Rustic Moth, Speckled Rustic
Caradrina multifera is a noctuid moth known as the Speckled Rustic Moth. It occurs across eastern and central North America, with disjunct populations in the Pacific Northwest. Adults are active from July through October.
Caradrinini
Caradrinini is a tribe of moths within the family Noctuidae, subfamily Hadeninae. The tribe contains approximately 18 recognized genera, including well-known agricultural pests such as *Spodoptera* (armyworms) and *Callopistria*, as well as the type genus *Caradrina*. Members are primarily nocturnal and exhibit considerable morphological diversity.
Catabena lineolata
Fine-lined Sallow
Catabena lineolata, commonly known as the fine-lined sallow, is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae. It was described by Francis Walker in 1865. The species is found in North America, with documented occurrences in Canada (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan) and the United States (Vermont). It is assigned MONA/Hodges number 10033, a standard cataloging system for North American Lepidoptera.
Catabena sagittata
Catabena sagittata is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Barnes and McDunnough in 1913. The species is native to North America and belongs to a genus of relatively small noctuid moths. Like other members of the family Noctuidae, adults are likely nocturnal and attracted to light sources.
Catabenoides
Catabenoides is a genus of owlet moths (Noctuidae) established in 2002 by Poole. The genus was created to accommodate five species previously placed in Catabena and has since expanded to 14 recognized species. It is a New World genus with a xerophytic distribution spanning arid and semi-arid regions from the southern United States through Mexico to South America.
Cerapteryx
antler moth
Cerapteryx is a genus of noctuid moths established by Curtis in 1833, containing two recognized species: Cerapteryx graminis (the antler moth) and Cerapteryx megala. The genus is best known from the antler moth, which has been introduced to Newfoundland where it established populations in the 1960s and became a minor agricultural pest. The genus is native to Europe and has been recorded from Scandinavia and Denmark.
Cerastis cornuta
Enigmatic Dart and Close Allies
Cerastis cornuta is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It was described by Grote in 1874. The species is part of the Cerastis genus complex, which includes several closely related species sometimes referred to collectively as the 'Enigmatic Dart and Close Allies.' It is recorded as present in North America.
Cerastis enigmatica
Enigmatic Dart
Cerastis enigmatica, commonly known as the enigmatic dart, is a species of noctuid moth described by Lafontaine and Crabo in 1997. It belongs to the cutworm or dart moth group within the family Noctuidae. The species is distributed across North America and is assigned Hodges number 10995.2.
Cerastis fishii
Fish's Dart
Cerastis fishii is a noctuid moth of eastern North America, commonly known as Fish's Dart. Adults are active in spring, with a flight period from March through June. The species has a wingspan of 30–36 mm. Larvae feed specifically on blueberry flowers and leaves.
Cerastis gloriosa
Cerastis gloriosa is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It was described by Crabo and Lafontaine in 1997. The species is found in North America and has been assigned the MONA or Hodges number 10995.3. As a member of the Noctuidae, it belongs to one of the largest families of moths, commonly known as owlet moths.
Cerastis salicarum
Willow Dart
Cerastis salicarum, commonly known as the willow dart, is a noctuid moth species first described by Walker in 1857. It is classified within the cutworm or dart moth group of the family Noctuidae. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 10996. It occurs in North America with documented records from Canadian provinces and the northern United States.
Cerastis tenebrifera
Reddish Speckled Dart
Cerastis tenebrifera, commonly known as the reddish speckled dart, is a noctuid moth distributed across eastern and central North America. The species is univoltine, with adults active in spring. Larvae have been documented feeding on a diverse range of host plants across multiple families.
Cerathosia
Cerathosia is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Stiriinae, containing two described species: C. opistochra and C. tricolor. The genus was established by Smith in 1887. Members of this genus are part of the diverse owlet moth fauna of North America.
Cerathosia tricolor
Etched Cerathosia
Cerathosia tricolor is a species of owlet moth in the family Noctuidae, described by Smith in 1887. It is found in North America, where it has been documented in at least 637 observations. The species is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9064. As a member of the subfamily Stiriinae, it belongs to a group of relatively small, often cryptically colored noctuid moths.
Cerma cerintha
Tufted Bird-dropping Moth
Cerma cerintha, known as the tufted bird-dropping moth, is a noctuid moth species described by Georg Friedrich Treitschke in 1826. The species is found in North America and is assigned MONA/Hodges number 9062. It belongs to the subfamily Acronictinae within the owlet moth family Noctuidae. The common name references its resemblance to bird droppings, a form of protective mimicry.
Cerma cora
owl-eyed bird dropping moth, cora moth, himalayan clematis moth
Cerma cora is a noctuid moth species first described by Jacob Hübner in 1818. It is commonly known as the owl-eyed bird dropping moth, cora moth, or Himalayan clematis moth. The species is found in North America and has been assigned the MONA/Hodges number 9061.
Chaetaglaea cerata
Waxed Sallow
Chaetaglaea cerata is a noctuid moth native to northeastern North America, first described in 1943. Adults are recognized by their pale greyish-tan forewings with contrasting whitish veins. The species has a wingspan of approximately 35 mm. It is listed as a species of special concern in Connecticut, reflecting its limited distribution and apparent rarity.
Chaetaglaea fergusoni
Ferguson's sallow moth
Chaetaglaea fergusoni, known as Ferguson's sallow moth, is a noctuid moth described by Vernon Antoine Brou Jr. in 1997. It is a member of the genus Chaetaglaea, a group of sallow moths characterized by their distinctive morphological features. The species is documented in North America and has been assigned the MONA/Hodges number 9948.1.
Chaetaglaea sericea
silky sallow
Chaetaglaea sericea, commonly known as the silky sallow, is a species of cutworm or dart moth in the family Noctuidae. It was first described by Morrison in 1874 under the basionym Glaea sericea. The species is found in North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 9950. It belongs to the genus Chaetaglaea, a group of sallow moths within the large noctuid family.
Chalcopasta howardi
Chalcopasta howardi is a noctuid moth first described by Henry Edwards in 1877. It belongs to the subfamily Stiriinae, a group of small to medium-sized owlet moths. The species is recorded from North America and has been assigned MONA/Hodges number 9776. Information regarding its biology, host associations, and ecology remains limited.
Chalcopasta territans
Chalcopasta territans is a noctuid moth described by Henry Edwards in 1884. It belongs to the subfamily Stiriinae, a group of small to medium-sized owlet moths. The species is documented from North America with 89 iNaturalist observations. Its MONA/Hodges number is 9775.
Chamaeclea
Chamaeclea is a genus of moths in the family Noctuidae, subfamily Acontiinae. The genus contains two recognized species: Chamaeclea basiochrea and Chamaeclea pernana. Both species are native to North America. The genus was established by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1883.
Chamaecleini
bird dropping moths
Chamaecleini is a small tribe of moths within the family Noctuidae, containing approximately 9 genera and 14 described species. The tribe was formally established by Keegan & Wagner in 2019. Members are commonly referred to as "bird dropping moths," a name reflecting their cryptic coloration that resembles avian feces. The tribe includes genera such as Chamaeclea, Megalodes, and Aleptinoides.
Charadra deridens
Laugher Moth, Marbled Tuffet Moth, Laugher
Charadra deridens is a medium-sized noctuid moth commonly known as the Laugher Moth or Marbled Tuffet Moth. It is widespread across northern North America, ranging from eastern Canada to the Pacific coast, with notable absence from the southwestern United States. The species exhibits seasonal variation in flight period, with shorter activity windows in northern populations and extended seasons in southern regions such as Florida.
Chersotis
Chersotis is a genus of noctuid moths in the subfamily Noctuinae, established by Boisduval in 1840. The genus contains approximately 30 described species distributed primarily across the Palearctic region. Species are predominantly found in mountainous and northern European habitats. Many species were described during the 19th and early 20th centuries, with several taxa originally placed in other genera before reassignment.
Chersotis juncta
stirrup dart moth, spear dart moth, Stirrup and Spear Dart
Chersotis juncta is a noctuid moth with a Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, northern Asia, and North America. The species is known by multiple common names referencing its wing pattern. It is a member of the cutworm or dart moth group within the family Noctuidae.
Chloridea subflexa
Subflexus Straw Moth
Chloridea subflexa is a noctuid moth first described by Achille Guenée in 1852. It is the sibling species of the tobacco budworm (Chloridea virescens), from which it is distinguished by host plant specialization. The species is notably rare compared to its widespread congener and feeds exclusively on ground cherry (Physalis spp., Solanaceae). It has been recorded across a broad geographic range from the United States through the Antilles to Argentina.
Chloridea virescens
Tobacco Budworm Moth, Tobacco Budworm
Chloridea virescens, the tobacco budworm moth, is a noctuid moth native to the Americas and a major agricultural pest. The species was transferred from genus Heliothis to Chloridea in 2013 based on genetic and morphological evidence. Adults are brownish with green tinge and distinctive wing banding. Larvae feed on buds, blossoms, and fruit of diverse host plants, causing significant crop damage. The species has developed rapid resistance to multiple insecticide classes, making management challenging.
agricultural-pestnoctuidaetobacco-pestcotton-pestinsecticide-resistanceBt-resistanceNorth-AmericaSouth-Americacomplete-metamorphosisparasitoid-hostpheromone-communicationhost-plant-preferencematernal-effecttemperature-dependent-developmentsoil-pupationdiapausecannibalismlarval-defense-behaviorintegrated-pest-managementsterile-insect-techniquetransgenic-crop-targetHeliothisChlorideaLepidopteraowlet-mothbudwormbollworm-complexChoephora
Choephora is a monotypic genus of owlet moths in the family Noctuidae, established by Grote & Robinson in 1868. The genus contains a single species, Choephora fungorum, commonly known as the bent-line carpet. These moths belong to the subfamily Noctuinae, one of the largest and most diverse groups within Noctuidae. The genus is recognized in major taxonomic databases including Catalogue of Life and GBIF.
Choephora fungorum
Bent-lined Dart, bent-line dart
Choephora fungorum, known as the bent-lined dart, is a noctuid moth native to eastern North America. Adults are active in autumn and possess a wingspan of 33–47 mm. The species is notable for its broad geographic range spanning from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast.