White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715
Euxoa scandens
This record describes Euxoa scandens (species). Recorded family: Noctuidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Considered a pest of many vegetable crops as are many of the cutworm species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Noctuoidea
- Family
- Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Noctuinae
- Tribe
- Noctuini
- Genus
- Euxoa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Dry sandy areas including dunes and beaches.
Geographic Range
Northwest Territories and Alberta to Newfoundland, and across the northern United States from Montana to Illinois and Pennsylvania. In the Rocky Mountain region the range extends south to Oklahoma and Utah. , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data.
Seasonal Activity
Adults are most common from June to July. There are records from April to August. ( 3 )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Lafontaine (1987) listed the larval hosts as Meliotus sp. (sweet clover), many vegetable crops and young trees. ( 4 )
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euxoa scandens. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman
Frequently Asked Questions About White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715
What is White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715?
White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715 (Euxoa scandens) is a species in the family Noctuidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715?
Wingspan is 32-36 mm.
Where is White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Dry sandy areas including dunes and beaches. |
| Range | Northwest Territories and Alberta to Newfoundland, and across the northern United States from Montana to Illinois and Pennsylvania. In the Rocky Mountain region the range extends south to Oklahoma and Utah. , Moth Photographers Group - large map with some distribution data. |
What does White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715 eat?
The diet of the White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715 includes Lafontaine (1987) listed the larval hosts as Meliotus sp. (sweet clover), many vegetable crops and young trees. ( 4 ).
When is White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715 active?
White Cutworm Moth - Hodges#10715: seasonal activity - Adults are most common from June to July. There are records from April to August. ( 3 ).